Appeals & Second Opinions
Righting wrongs - Appeals in criminal cases.
Sadly, not every case ends with the correct result, and not every conviction or sentence should stand. Quentin Hunt has extensive experience in handling criminal appeals, in the Crown Court, Court of Appeal and High Court. Whether it's a conviction that should never have been secured, or a sentence that is manifestly excessive, Quentin can provide clear, strategic advice on the potential for appeal and how best to approach it.
Quentin is acutely aware that handling an appeal case requires a different approach to trials. Appeals are often based on technical legal arguments, fresh evidence, or procedural unfairness that occurred during the original proceedings and often an element of ‘detective work’ is needed to root out appeal points.
With over 25 years of experience in criminal law, Quentin is exceptionally well-versed in identifying appeal points, drafting persuasive written grounds, and arguing cases at appellate level with clarity and conviction.
Quentin is often approached by defendants, and the families of defendants where the original legal team has advised negatively on appeal. Quentin is adept at reviewing the adequacy of original legal representation and in sniffing out points of appeal that may have been missed by other lawyers. Although Quentin cannot guarantee that grounds of appeal will exist in any particular case, many defendants and their families like to have the peace of mind that every possible avenue has been explored when looking at the potential for appeal.
Quentin has an excellent record and appearing before the Court of Appeal criminal division and has a reputation for making realistic, focused and determined submissions on behalf of his clients.
Quentin provides a very popular ‘triage’ advice service where he can advise clients as to whether they may have potential grounds of appeal on and initial basis for a fraction of the cost of a full appeal investigation.
Second Opinions: When It’s Time to Reassess
In many areas of life such as medical treatment or major financial decisions, people are encouraged to get a second opinion. Yet in criminal law, this is far less common than it should be. If you or your family have concerns about the way a case has been handled either at trial, during sentencing, or in ongoing proceedings then seeking a second opinion may be reasonable, or even essential.
Quentin regularly provides independent legal opinions on cases where previous advice may have fallen short, where clients have lost trust in their current representatives, or where family members want reassurance that every legal avenue is being explored on behalf of their loved ones.
Quentin approaches such matters with sensitivity and clarity and is a believer in the fact that his clients should receive the correct advice, not the advice that they want to hear, and he has a commitment to providing honest, expert advice.
Quetin will routinely advise on:
- The merits of appealing a conviction or sentence
- Applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)
- Second opinions on legal advice previously received
- Second opinions on tactical decisions and the direction that a legal team is following
- Advice on new evidence, ineffective assistance, or procedural unfairness
If you are considering an appeal or you simply want an experienced barrister to review your case and offer an expert second opinion Quentin may be of assistance. He believes that his role is not to give false hope, but to provide clear, practical, and honest advice about what can be done and how best to do it.
Quentin’s guides to Appeals and Second Opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no stage that is too early or too late to seek legal advice if you consider yourself to be in trouble. In fact, the earlier you get an experienced legal representative on board the more likely you are to avoid mistakes at the beginning of proceedings that can come back to haunt you later if the matter proceeds to litigation.
One of Quentin’s mottos is that ‘the best way to win a trial is not to have a trial at all’ and he is known for the drafting of effective pre-charge representations and the launching of powerful pre-trial legal arguments. His tactical and skilful drafting and presentation of arguments such as disclosure, abuse of process and dismissal applications can often defeat a prosecution case before it even gets to trial.
Quentin is also adept at accepting instructions at a late stage and is often approached to ‘rescue’ cases from ineffective publicly funded representatives.
Quentin is passionate about committing the necessary time and attention to detail to his cases and purposefully does not take on a huge client base. He is therefore does not accept instruction in Legal Aid or publicly funded cases.
If you have been accused of a criminal offence you have the right to seek justice by employing the best barrister to present your case. You can instruct leading criminal barrister Quentin Hunt to handle your criminal case directly – rather than having to go through a third-party solicitor. You can contact Quentin for a free, no obligation conversation about your case, he will talk you through the process personally.
