Abigail Pavitt

a.pavitt@allaw.co.uk | 020 7703 9222

I qualified as a solicitor in 1991 after spending half of my training in the field of criminal defence. It was an area of law that I enjoyed the most during my training, so after qualification it was the obvious choice to specialise in.

I have experience of cases involving allegations of murder, drugs supply, gang-related violence including the use of firearms, terrorism and sexual offences including historic allegations, grooming and indecent images. I regularly act on behalf of people accused of less serious criminal activity. Much of my caseload consists of thefts, public disorder, domestic violence and traffic offences. 

I am frequently at the police station or in the Magistrates Court and prepare my cases for Higher Courts Advocates to speak on behalf of my clients at the Crown Court and sometimes the Court of Appeal. I endeavour to get the best results at every stage of the process. I am particularly keen to engage in legal argument.

Many of my clients are vulnerable, through youth or mental health problems and I always try to make the process as stress free as possible. For example, I have made arrangements for clients who need to be interviewed by the police for those interviews to take place at a police station local to them, at a specialised suite for vulnerable interviewees or even at the client’s home address.

I have had extensive and regularly updated training in communicating with people who may need extra help in navigating the process; my chief aim would be for them to be diverted out of the criminal justice system altogether.

Notable Cases

2022 - Advised a youth arrested for affray who had lost their temper after being taunted by another child; I spoke with them and their mother who explained the difficult circumstances they were struggling with; after a police interview they were referred for help rather than being sent to court

2021 - Obtained legal aid for a client charged with traffic offences whose case needed careful handling to avoid them facing more serious offences; in the event, they received a modest financial penalty 

2021 - Represented a client arrested for being in possession of a blade in a public place; they had gone onto a communal area and punctured a ball that children had repeatedly kicked against their property; after giving their account to the police in interview they were, exceptionally for the offence, given a caution instead of being charged to appear at court

2021 - Represented a client arrested with another suspect for being concerned in the supply of drugs and possession of criminal property; I challenged the grounds the police had for arresting my client and for reading messages on their phone and the end result was that they were given a community resolution for the cannabis they’d admitted was theirs that no further action was taken regarding the much more serious offences

2020 - Persuaded the Crown Prosecution Service to discontinue a case against a vulnerable adult accused of assaulting a member of staff at their care home where prosecution was not in the public interest

2020 - Represented a youth arrested for several offences including some of which had led to a brief remand into custody; I obtained bail for them and followed up on a referral for modern day slavery; eventually all cases at court or under police investigation were dropped and the threatened Criminal Behaviour Order was not made

2019 - Successfully challenged a prosecution for causing harassment, alarm or distress to police officers at the Crown Court; the case was discontinued

2019 - Represented a client sectioned following her arrest for malicious communications; the police agreed with the victims to a community resolution

2018 - Successfully applied for the lifting of a Restraining Order following an admitted breach when it was no longer appropriate for the Order to remain in force

2018 - Represented a client facing trial for being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs where a Criminal Behaviour Order was sought; he agreed to plead guilty to the cannabis only and received a Community Order and no Criminal Behaviour Order was made

2018 - Represented a client of good character accused of violent behaviour and possession of an offensive weapon after an amateur football match, where police had interviewed only the local team supporters; after service of the defence and challenging the prosecution the case was discontinued

2017 - Represented a client interviewed under caution accused of fly tipping in respect of his business premises; the allegation was misguided and no further action was taken

2017 - Represented a client of good character who had rejected the offer of a caution for an alleged assault after an amateur football match; he was acquitted after a trial and retained his good character

Career

Assistant solicitor at Hartnells and Amphlett Lissimore Bagshaws LLP

Assistant solicitor managing offices in Camberwell and Deptford for Graham Dobson & Co

Education

Training: Duthie Hart and Duthie, E15

College of Law, Lancaster Gate: Solicitors Final Examination

University of Exeter: LLB  2.1