Read and share our new report: JUSTICE+ Why England and Wales need Holistic Defence in the criminal justice system. https://t.co/nPPStJsMQL Holistic defence is a client-led, cost-saving approach which leads to *less* prison time AND *less* recidivism.

The case raises important points about reliance on cell confession evidence and lack of proper safeguards as well as the failures of the police/CPS to disclose evidence they had which would have undermined the confession evidence many years earlier:

Rhona first acted in this case in 2004 working alongside Jane Hickman, James Wood KC, Sarah Elliott KC and in the successful second appeal in 2023 with Farrhat Arshad, and more recently David Rhodes and Philippa Eastwood [all of @DoughtyStCrime ]

Our co-founder Rhona Friedman appeared on ITV West Country news this week following the news that her client, Robert Firkins, will now not be tried for the high profile crimes she had successfully appealed previously:

We're honoured to have been mentioned as one of the 5 ways to help fix the criminal justice system by @guardian We desperately need change and new approaches not just perpetual crisis management - see:

We'll have to wait until Spring 2025 to see what long-term solutions the Sentencing Review proposes to end the prisons crisis. But criminal defence firm @CommonsLegal has come up with one the government can explore right now. New blog from me: https://t.co/EStyoJvspr

Why go is @ShabanaMahmood going so far? London law firm @CommonsLegal proposed its "holistic defence" model in @TimesLaw - but @MoJGovUK didn't want to comment. The model's been shown to reduce millions of days in jail, reduce reoffending & save £millions.

Millions of days of custody could be saved by adopting a "holistic defence service" that address reasons for offending, reducing crime & saving taxpayers’ money, a report from @CommonsLegal says, calling on @MoJGovUK to pilot it - in @TimesLaw:

And we are off. Grace Loncraine @CommonsLegal kicks off by discussing her joint project with the @MigrantsLawProj on the criminalisation of young migrants with some key recommendations, the first report is due out in November 2024

Children, Crime and Immigration: YJLC lunchtime webinar today at 1pm. Here from experts: Grace Loncraine @CommonsLegal Anna Skehan @IslingtonLawCen Gaby Couchman @IslingtonBC Register here: https://t.co/jiRFLf2opt

Research and drafting led by the wonderful @NSakande

"[this report] should start an overdue conversation about our fetish for making the defendant both the court spectacle and court spectator entombed in their own glass box" Our Rhona Friedman guest blogging for @TransformJust1

Grace Loncraine, one of our directors, is delighted to have joined the committee of the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association. She'll be working hard to help protect this vital, but overlooked part of the criminal justice system. #criminaldefence #legalsystem #criminalappeals #law

People like @Crim_sol_PH , @jonblackbsb , @EdwardJones16 , @caseyleej , Steve Bird of @birdssolicitors , Rhona Friedman of @CommonsLegal and many many others @lccsa deserve huge credit for leading our profession

The Law Society has secured a partial victory in its High Court dispute with the UK Government over criminal Legal Aid fees. Find out more in this article: https://t.co/EL6qQfSZjr. #legalaid #criminaljustice #lawfirm #ukgovernment #lawsociety

@SashyNathan, co-founder of @CommonsLegal, shares how winning the Cambridge Social Innovation Prize helped him as a #socent. The prize is supported by @TrinityHallCamb and the @CJBSsocinnov, at the @Cambridge_Uni. Apply – https://t.co/f24xcAELDh

Christmas at Commons🎅🏼Last week, our team celebrated at our annual Christmas party! We took a break from the law and embraced some holiday fun. From cracking codes in an escape room to enjoying dinner together. And no Christmas party is complete without some team photos, right?

Know your rights in a police interview: 1. Free legal representation. 2. Right to inform someone if arrested. 3. Consult the Codes of Practice. 4. Appropriate adult for under 18s or mentally vulnerable. Stay informed, know your rights! #KnowYourRights #LegalAid #PoliceInterview

Navigating legal processes is complex, especially when it comes to the process of property retrieval. Our latest guide aims to empower individuals and help them be well-informed and proactive in asserting their rights. Download here: https://t.co/nsy4Fve7V3 #LegalRights #Law

At Commons, we challenge immigration injustices in the UK's legal system. In partnership with @MigrantsLawProj, we're in a three-year initiative, providing legal representation and research for vulnerable youth in the immigration-criminal justice. #Law #CriminalJustice #Law