Joanna Hardy

@Joanna__Hardy

Criminal Barrister | | via | Listed in | Executive Committee Member of | Sidekick: miniature sausage dog.

East London via Sussex
Joined April 2013

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  1. Pinned Tweet
    22 Nov 2018

    The bumper-to-bumper passive aggression of an East London traffic jam shunning a queue jumper is a thing of beauty. Closing ranks. No weak motorist in the chain. A conga line of motoring justice. He’ll still be there at noon. Indicating. Hoping.

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  2. 3 hours ago

    All these new followers are going to be so sad when they realise all I tweet about is my sausage dog and traffic.

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  3. Retweeted
    15 hours ago

    The sky above Crowborough, East Sussex is taking my breath away. Nature's majesty is a wondrous thing.

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  4. 23 hours ago
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  5. Jan 4

    I mean. It’s *very* early in the year 😂 Thanks so much Laura x

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  6. Jan 4

    So, next time you read a headline or an article trashing legal aid, take a deep breath. Read ‘s book. And reflect how lucky you are not to be at the wrong end of an allegation. Because, one day, you might be.

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  7. Jan 4

    And finally - if you are still banging the “ANYONE ACCUSED OF CRIME DOES NOT DESERVE A LAWYER” drum then consider this. A well-trained, expert defence Bar helps to populate well-trained, expert prosecutors. And I bet my bottom dollar you like those.

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  8. Jan 4

    Headline legal aid figures “awarded” to criminals are misleading. They can represent years of work across several professionals (solicitors, paralegals, barristers, expert witnesses). The trial might be long and complex. It might include appeal work.

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  9. Jan 4

    Legal aid rates are, at best, very modest. At their worst, barristers can work long hours for less than the minimum wage and, sometimes, do certain tasks for free. Just to keep the show on the road and the wheels moving.

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  10. Jan 4

    And if you don’t think you’ll be accused of a crime, don’t think you’ll be the victim of a crime and don’t care about your taxes then the lottery of life means you still might be a juror or a witness. Trials with D’s self-representing can take forever and can cost a fortune.

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  11. Jan 4

    You, very sadly, might be the victim of a crime. Lawyers mean any trial is run professionally and with courtesy and efficiency. That is in your interest. It is in everyone’s interest.

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  12. Jan 4

    What if you are never accused of a crime? Well, as a tax payer, lawyers SAVE you money. Proper advice can lead to guilty pleas when appropriate. Proper representation means trials run smoothly and are cheaper.

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  13. Jan 4

    Lawyers don’t get to decide if you’re guilty or not. Or walk away if they think you are. That’s what the trial is FOR. That is the whole point.

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  14. Jan 4

    Legal Aid means you will get a lawyer. A proper one. You might have to contribute a bit or nothing depending on your circumstances. That lawyer will advise. They will represent you at trial if you maintain your innocence. They will represent you at sentence if you plead guilty.

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  15. Jan 4

    But what if you aren’t rich? What if you have a modest salary or have no salary at all?

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  16. Jan 4

    Lawyers cost money. They aren’t a charity and they aren’t your friends. They’re highly trained professionals who have chosen to work with those accused of crime. If you are rich then you will probably pay the best lawyer you can. Lucky you.

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  17. Jan 4

    Sometimes money goes missing at work & fingers start pointing. Sometimes you might have to use violence to defend yourself and you might be accused of going over the top. And sometimes, frankly, your behaviour may fall short. It may be criminal. You can end up in the dock.

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  18. Jan 4

    Anyone (I really do mean anyone) can be accused of a crime at the drop of a hat. It might happen when you least expect it. Sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes humans hit other humans with their cars. Sometimes people make allegations that are true / false / somewhere in between.

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  19. Jan 4

    I see it’s the official season of trashing Legal Aid. Like clockwork. The arrogance of some of that criticism is breathtaking. A thread.

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  20. Jan 3

    I am muting “sausage roll” until you all start behaving yourselves.

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  21. Jan 2

    Actual footage of me rocking up to court on the first day of any long trial. “I only printed the core documents”

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