Get to court early
Getting to court early will give you time to speak to the defence lawyer dealing with your case.
If you don’t have a lawyer, you should ask to speak to the duty solicitor.
It's important to tell the lawyer what offences have been committed and why, along with some basic information about yourself, such as:
- where you live
- your date of birth
- family circumstances
- what school you go to
- your hobbies.
Lawyers will advise on whether to plead ‘guilty’ or ‘not guilty’ to the offences. Entering a plea normally takes place at the first hearing.
There is some waiting around, but the court will call the case on by name when they are ready to deal with it. This is usually done by the usher.
If you’re being detained by the police, they, or specialist custody staff, will bring you to court and you'll still be in their custody. This may mean that you’ll be handcuffed and escorted.