Direct Access Barrister

Praveen Sethi

Direct Access Barrister

Praveen Sethi

Mr Sethi is based in Manchester and covers the Northwest and further afield with appropriate notice.

Areas of practice: Care Proceedings, Social Services, Child Protection, Family (Children) Disputes, Criminal Defence, Driving Offences, Magistrates Court Work, Family Court, Direct Access and Legal Aid.

Called to the Bar in 2020 after a successful career as a Solicitor – Advocate, working in law since 2004, Mr Sethi has dealt with every aspect of a case from initial instruction through to final hearing.

He has a thriving practice which is split between public law (care proceedings), family law (children), domestic violence and criminal law.

Prior to joining the bar, he was one of the few solicitors to have obtained both the prestigious Resolution Specialist Accreditation scheme in Family Law, a mark of quality as well as obtaining similar credentials in Crime, the Criminal Law Accreditation Scheme enabling him to practice as a duty solicitor and police station representative.

Mr Sethi has an empathetic manner and can provide realistic advice to clients in a straightforward, easy to understand manner with a passion for learning and a commitment to keeping up with the ever-changing developments in his legal areas of practice.

Mr Sethi accepts instructions to advise and represent clients from initial hearings through to contested final hearings and trials.
Based in Manchester, he is able to cover all courts in the Northwest as well as further afield with appropriate notice.












Area of Law

Crime

Mr Sethi had a wealth of experience in Criminal Law which has been enhanced by further practice and additional qualifications. He represents clients in the Police Station, Magistrates court and on occasion the Crown court.

A qualified Duty Solicitor since 2012 and Higher Court Criminal Advocate since 2014; he has been involved in the preparation of almost every type of serious offence in the Crown Court including Rape, Child Sex Offences, Sexual Grooming and Serious Drugs Offences.

In the Magistrates Court he has conducted advocacy in a wide range of offences. Some of the more common offences include driving offences, common assault, harassment, theft, and breach of restraining orders. Examples of the type of hearings include bail applications, bad character applications, sentencing and trials.

He has also provided advice on prospects of appeal of sentence and also legal opinion for the purposes of funding to the legal aid board as well as drafting defence case statements.

He has experience of driving offences, where drivers are at risk of a ban. Effective mitigation can help a drive avoid or reduce any driving ban that could impact their employment or personal life.

Family

Mr Sethi has represented both Applicants and Respondents in all types of hearings in the Family Courts. Examples include Section 8 Children Act 1989 Prohibited Steps Orders, Child Arrangement Orders and Specific Issue Orders. He has conducted advocacy at all stages, ex parte, Interim, First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointment, Fact Finding Hearings and Final Hearings.

On many occasions, maybe a link or requirement for Domestic Violence/ Non Molestation Order cases too A client may require a non-molestation order and a prohibited steps order to keep a child safe from an abusive partner.

Conversely, he has often acted for a Respondent who says that allegations of violence are exaggerated or fabricated to give the Applicant parent an advantage in child contact arrangements or finances when the relationship breaks down.

Other types of hearings include Declaration of Parentage (DNA Testing) and Applications for permission to change a child’s name.

Care proceedings include, contested final hearings where options for a child include being returned to the parents, placed in foster care or for adoption.


What sort of work do I do?

Mr Sethi regularly carries out advocacy in the Family Courts and Magistrates Courts in his areas of practice. He is able to provide legal advice and assistance and assess the merits of the case from the available papers too.

Who do I work for?

Mr Sethi is direct access qualified and his clerks will be able to provide you with a quote before any work commences. He is used to working with members of the public as well as solicitors and other professionals.

Legally aided clients must be instructed via a Solicitor. If you qualify for legal aid but do not currently have a solicitor, he may be able to signpost you to a reputable firm in your local area.

He has worked with clients from all ethnicities, diverse backgrounds and religions.






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