Question regarding solicitor

[Guest31]

Greetings. I wonder if someone can advise me
should a criminal solicitor be able to tell me what I'm likely to be charged with? All I get told is wait until you go to the police station to answer your bail and you'll find out then. I get told until your charged we won't know then we can take it from there

The solicitor who is representing me has only just qualified last year and therefore has no personal experience I assume of what I'm charged with
Is it reasonable to expect my solicitor to know whether I'm going to be charged with one or the other or should u have to wait ? Am I being unreasonable here

can I change solicitors once I have been charged or should I change them now to a more experienced one. Does legal aid mean you get what you pay for and I can't be picky?

Tia

[islandgirl]

Your solicitor should be able to say it will be either a, b or c and give you an idea of what the possible charges are. He or she will not know until the CPS decide - they will only charge what they have a very good chance of getting a conviction for

[Guest31]

I am just told to wait until I answer bail in 3 weeks which is causing immense stress. I've not been told it's going to be a n or 3 I've just been told it's going to be one of them which isn't particularly helpfull

If I got a loan and paid for a solicitor will I get a better service than if I stay on legal aid.

[Guest31]

Also is mitigation usually discussed at court right before you stand in front of the judge or should I see the solicitor a few days beforehand to discuss it. Is this another legal aid issue?

[islandgirl]

In fairness the solicitor will not necessarily know - depends on the evidence they have. And mitigation comes before sentencing - either after a guilty plea or after you are found guilty following a trial

[Guest31]

I understand that he's really busy and I guess legal aid isn't top. Of their priorities but can't help but think if I was paying they wouldn't be like this Never replies to emails and doesn't return calls

would it be easier to get a new solicitor at the company I'm with or just find a brand new one?

[islandgirl]

It is wrong that they do not communicate and very frustrating. However they cannot tell you something they do not know. They can give you the options of what the charges "might" be but will not know for sure