About
Born and raised in South West London, William Pope first came into contact with the police whilst attending Holland Park Comprehensive in North Kensington: the local police would target him and his fellow pupils as trouble makers without any justification other than their age and where they went to school. This early life experience formed the kernel of his ambition to fight for those wrongly accused of crime and to challenge authority wherever it overstepped the boundary of what is right.
William studied Philosophy and International Relations at St Andrew's University and then completed the Common Professional Examination at Westminster University. He passed the Bar Finals course at the Inns of Court School of Law, joined Lincoln's Inn and completed pupillage at Lord Campbell of Alloway's chambers at 2 Kings Bench Walk. He was called to the Bar in 1995.
William then qualified as a Solicitor and joined Lawrence and Co in Battersea. He achieved duty solicitor status and worked for various firms in London over the next decade both as employee and consultant freelance solicitor.
In 2012 William returned to the bar as a sole practitioner barrister.
What is a sole practitioner?
A sole practitioner is a barrister who is not in chambers with other barristers.
Solicitors and Barristers
Traditionally the difference between Solicitors and Barristers was that Solicitors prepared cases for court and Barristers did the Advocacy in court. Today in the magistrates court most advocates are solicitors, and many solicitors now appear in the Crown court if they gain the required qualification.
How do I instruct you?
As a Barrister, I cannot take instructions directly from clients. The law says that you must first instruct a solicitor, who will then instruct me. Please see the contact section for my recommendations for solicitors I work with regularly.
Your solicitors will help you to get Legal Aid if you qualify, or will discuss fees if you wish to pay privately.
Why should I chose you?
I have over 25 years of experience representing defendants in court.
As a sole practitioner barrister, I work directly with your solicitor to attain the best outcome for you in the criminal proceedings you are facing, without any commitment to a chambers.
