Practice areas:
courts martial

One Paper Buildings has a team of experienced advocates who regularly appear before various military courts in the United Kingdom and abroad.  In recent years cases have been conducted in Portsmouth, Aldershot, Bulford, Catterick, Colchester, Gutersloh, Hohne and Osnabruck.  Members of the team are happy and willing to travel to any location at which the Courts sit.

All members of the Courts-Martial team recognise and understand the realities of life in the services; members are especially aware of the need to gain the trust of the lay-client from the start and that, in many cases, service personnel are more used to following orders than giving instructions. Members of the Courts-Martial team appreciate the concern and distress that comes with being investigated and accused of offences, especially when the accused is abroad. To that end members are happy to advise and become involved early on in any investigation. Additionally mobile phone numbers and e-mail addresses can be provided to enable speedy and effective responses to any questions or concerns.

Instructions are received, and welcomed, both from civilian solicitors and from the Armed Forces Legal Aid Authority (‘AFCLAA’). Forces personnel based outside of the UK are able to request a member of the Courts-Martial team by filling in the relevant section on the Legal Aid Form. When completing the Armed Forces Legal Aid Form insert 'a barrister from One Paper Buildings'. AFCLAA will then contact Chambers, and a barrister will be nominated to run the case. It should be noted that a barrister is professionally unable to attend the police station (whether Civilian or Service) with the serviceman or woman; however we may be able to assist in providing details of a solicitor who could attend. The Clerking team is particularly aware of the logistical difficulties faced by service personnel being stationed world-wide, and are experienced at arranging pre-trial conferences, including by video-link. They have a very good relationship with the Military Court Service.

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