Edinburgh Sheriff Court is one of the busiest in Scotland, and its scale works against an accused who arrives unprepared. Cases are called in volume, disclosure is often produced late, and there is constant pressure to resolve matters at the earliest diet. If you have been charged in Edinburgh or the Lothians, the value of instructing a solicitor quickly lies in getting ahead of that process rather than reacting to it. Charles Ferguson Solicitors act for clients throughout the east of Scotland from our Glasgow office at 20-23 Woodside Place, G3 7QL, roughly forty-five minutes away by the M8. Call 0141 345 5735 at any hour.
Edinburgh Sheriff Court and the High Court of Justiciary
Criminal cases from Edinburgh and the surrounding district are prosecuted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court, Sheriff Court House, 27 Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LB, in the Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders. The court takes both summary business and solemn cases prosecuted on indictment before a jury, and the Justice of the Peace Court sitting in the same building deals with lower-tariff summary complaints. Its catchment widened after Haddington Sheriff Court closed in 2015 and East Lothian business transferred here. The most serious charges in Scotland — murder, rape and the gravest drugs cases — are prosecuted in the High Court of Justiciary, which has its permanent seat in Edinburgh.
Criminal Offences We Defend in Edinburgh
Assault — common assault through to assault to severe injury, including incidents in the Cowgate, Grassmarket and Lothian Road night-time economy, where the number of licensed premises in a small area generates a steady volume of complaints. Drug Offences — possession, supply and being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. Fraud, Embezzlement and Financial Crime — Edinburgh is a major financial centre, and allegations arising in banking, fund management, accountancy and professional practice are prosecuted here, often after a long investigation. Theft and Dishonesty — housebreaking, shoplifting and reset. Domestic Abuse — charges under the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018, bail conditions and non-harassment orders. Sexual Offences — charges under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009, including representation from the investigation stage. Public Order — threatening or abusive behaviour under section 38, including complaints arising during the Festival period when the city's population swells. Weapons Offences — knives and offensive weapons. Road Traffic Offences — drink driving, dangerous driving and speeding on the city bypass and the A1.
Why Choose Charles Ferguson Solicitors in Edinburgh?
A busy court rewards preparation and punishes drift. Our approach in Edinburgh is to establish early what the Crown can actually prove — where the corroboration sits, whether the identification holds, whether the procedure was properly followed — and to advise on that footing rather than on the pressure of the diet. Where a client's profession is regulated, which in Edinburgh it very often is, we take account of the professional consequences of a conviction alongside the sentence itself. 24/7 Availability — call 0141 345 5735 at any hour of the day or night. Legal Aid Specialists — we accept Legal Aid work and will assess your eligibility at the outset. Police Station Attendance. Free Initial Consultation.
What to Do If You Are Charged in Edinburgh
If Police Scotland detain you in Edinburgh or the Lothians, you have the right to a private consultation with a solicitor before any interview begins. Take that right seriously and say nothing until you have advice — an account given in interview cannot be withdrawn. If you have been released on an undertaking, or a citation has arrived from the Procurator Fiscal requiring you to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, contact us as soon as you have it. Early instruction allows us to recover disclosure, assess the strength of the Crown case, and give you a clear view of your options before you are asked to plead in a court that will not wait.
Areas Served Across Edinburgh and the Lothians
We represent clients across Edinburgh and the surrounding area, including the city centre, Leith, Portobello, Gorgie, Dalry, Morningside, Newington, Marchmont, Corstorphine, Sighthill, Wester Hailes, Craigmillar, Niddrie, Muirhouse, Pilton, Colinton, Currie and Balerno, together with Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Loanhead, Tranent, Prestonpans, Haddington, North Berwick and Dunbar. Cases regularly arise on the A720 city bypass, the A1, the M8, the M9 and the A90. Call 0141 345 5735.