V Good & Co are criminal law solicitors in Edinburgh. We advise and represent those accused of crimes across the full range of Scots criminal law, in every Scottish court. Registered with the Scottish Legal Aid Board. Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Road Traffic
Offences.
Road traffic convictions can have serious and far-reaching consequences for your livelihood, employment, and everyday life. Whether you face a driving ban, penalty points, or a fine, the right legal advice at the earliest stage can make all the difference.
V Good & Co advise on the full range of road traffic matters prosecuted in Scotland. We understand the technical requirements of road traffic law and regularly challenge the admissibility of evidential breath test results, speed camera evidence, and the procedural compliance of police stops. Where a driving ban would cause exceptional hardship, we argue that case firmly. Our aim is to protect your licence and keep you on the road wherever the law allows.
Matters we advise on
- Drink driving (Section 5 Road Traffic Act 1988)
- Drug driving (Section 5A Road Traffic Act 1988)
- Dangerous driving
- Careless or inconsiderate driving
- Speeding
- Using a mobile phone while driving
- Driving without insurance
- Driving while disqualified
- Totting up disqualification
- Failing to provide a specimen
Do not enter a plea before taking legal advice. Many technical defences are only available before a plea of guilty is entered. Call us on 0131 622 3349.
Public Order
Offences.
Public order offences are among the most commonly prosecuted matters in the Scottish courts. An accusation of threatening behaviour or breach of the peace can arise from a moment of confrontation and carry lasting consequences for your reputation and liberty.
We advise and represent clients facing public order charges at every level, from summary proceedings in the Justice of the Peace Court through to the Sheriff Court. We scrutinise witness evidence, examine CCTV footage, and challenge the Crown's case wherever the legal standard has not been met. Identification, the reliability of witness accounts, and procedural compliance are all carefully assessed.
Matters we advise on
- Breach of the peace
- Section 38 threatening or abusive behaviour
- Threatening communications
- Racially aggravated conduct
- Offensive behaviour at football matches
- Disorder at licensed premises
- Stalking and harassment
If you have been charged with a public order offence, call us before making any further statement to the police. Early advice protects your position.
Drugs
Offences.
Drugs charges carry serious consequences including lengthy imprisonment, civil recovery proceedings, and Drug Treatment and Testing Orders. The right legal advice from the point of arrest is essential.
Drugs cases frequently involve complex evidential questions around stop and search procedure, the admissibility of forensic evidence, and the sufficiency of the Crown's case on knowledge and intent. V Good & Co scrutinise procedure and evidence at every stage, challenging anything that falls below the required legal standard. Where the search that produced the drugs was unlawful, the evidence may be entirely inadmissible.
Matters we advise on
- Possession of a controlled drug
- Possession with intent to supply
- Supply of a controlled drug
- Being concerned in the supply of drugs
- Production or cultivation
- Importation of controlled substances
- Permitting premises to be used for drug supply
- Drug dealing charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Civil Recovery Orders and Proceeds of Crime Act applications often run alongside criminal proceedings. We advise on the criminal matter and refer to specialists on asset recovery where needed.
Vandalism.
Vandalism charges in Scotland range from minor property damage to serious criminal conduct carrying significant penalties. Even a first offence can result in a criminal record with lasting consequences for employment, travel, and reputation.
V Good & Co provide clear, effective defence for those accused of vandalism and property damage offences. We examine the evidence carefully — identification, intent, and the Crown's ability to prove the offence to the required standard. Where a charge is not properly made out on the evidence, we challenge it robustly.
Matters we advise on
- Vandalism (Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995)
- Malicious mischief
- Wilful fire-raising
- Fire-raising
- Damage to a motor vehicle
- Graffiti offences
- Criminal damage in a public place
If you have been charged and are unsure of your position, call us for a free consultation before entering any plea.
Money
Laundering.
Money laundering allegations are among the most serious financial crimes prosecuted in Scotland. They frequently arise alongside other criminal charges and involve complex legal and evidential issues requiring specialist expertise.
We advise those accused of money laundering offences at all stages, from police investigation through to trial. These cases often involve extensive documentary evidence, expert financial analysis, and Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings running alongside criminal charges. V Good & Co work methodically through the evidence to construct a rigorous defence.
Matters we advise on
- Concealing or disguising criminal property
- Transferring criminal property
- Arrangements involving criminal property
- Acquisition, use, or possession of criminal property
- Failing to disclose knowledge or suspicion
- Tipping off (in regulated sectors)
- Associated Proceeds of Crime Act proceedings
Money laundering prosecutions frequently overlap with civil recovery proceedings. We advise on the criminal matter and refer to specialists on the civil aspects where required.
Murder.
Scotland's High Court of Justiciary handles murder and culpable homicide — the most serious criminal charges, carrying the most severe penalties including life imprisonment. Instructing the right solicitor from the point of arrest is critical.
V Good & Co work with experienced counsel from the point of first appearance, managing all stages of preparation to ensure the strongest possible defence is presented. Every case is assessed individually. Evidence is scrutinised. Procedure is challenged wherever it falls below the required standard. Clients are kept informed throughout and treated with complete discretion.
Matters we advise on
- Murder
- Culpable homicide
- Attempted murder
- Serious assault causing severe injury (High Court)
- Robbery with aggravation
- Major drugs supply and importation (High Court)
- Other solemn proceedings in the High Court of Justiciary
We advise from the point of arrest through to verdict. Where an appeal is required after conviction, we advise on all available grounds.
Bail
Contraventions.
Breaching bail conditions is a criminal offence in Scotland and can result in immediate remand in custody. If you are accused of a bail contravention, you need legal advice urgently — being taken into custody pending trial is a serious consequence that prompt action can often prevent.
V Good & Co advise on bail from the point of first appearance. We challenge conditions that are disproportionate or unnecessary, apply for bail where it has been refused, and represent those accused of bail contraventions. We understand the urgency of these situations and respond accordingly at any hour of the day or night.
Matters we advise on
- Failure to appear at court
- Breach of a bail condition
- Breach of a curfew condition
- Breach of an exclusion zone condition
- Contact with a named person in breach of bail
- Possession of a specified substance while on bail
- Applications for bail review and variation of conditions
If you or someone you know has a bail hearing or has been accused of a bail contravention, contact us immediately. We are available 24 hours a day on 0131 622 3349.
Assault.
Assault charges in Scotland range from minor altercations to serious cases involving life-changing injury. Whatever the nature of the charge, early legal advice is vital. An assault conviction can affect your employment, housing, and personal life for years to come.
V Good & Co advise and represent clients at every level of the Scottish criminal courts, from summary proceedings in the Justice of the Peace Court to solemn procedure in the Sheriff Court and High Court. We assess the evidence carefully — witness reliability, identification, and procedural compliance are all scrutinised — and construct the most effective defence available on the facts.
Matters we advise on
- Common assault
- Serious assault
- Domestic assault
- Assault to injury
- Assault to severe injury
- Assault with aggravated circumstances
- Section 38 threatening or abusive behaviour
- Culpable and reckless conduct
Bail conditions in assault cases can be highly restrictive. Early instruction gives us the best opportunity to challenge disproportionate conditions at the bail hearing.
Theft, Fraud
& Robbery.
Theft-related and fraud offences cover a wide spectrum — from shoplifting and minor deception to large-scale robbery and complex financial fraud. Whatever the nature of the charge, the quality of your legal representation matters.
Our solicitors have extensive experience defending theft, fraud, and robbery charges at all levels of the Scottish criminal courts. We scrutinise identification evidence, challenge witness accounts, examine CCTV and forensic material, and ensure every available defence is properly investigated. In cases where conviction is likely, we present mitigation effectively to secure the best possible outcome.
Matters we advise on
- Theft
- Theft by housebreaking
- Robbery
- Attempted robbery
- Shoplifting and retail theft
- Fraud
- Embezzlement
- Uttering (forgery and counterfeit documents)
- Benefit fraud
- Identity fraud
- Reset (receiving stolen goods)
Firearms
Offences.
Firearms and offensive weapons offences are treated with great seriousness in Scotland and carry mandatory minimum sentences in many circumstances. Specialist legal advice is essential from the outset.
V Good & Co advise on the full range of firearms and offensive weapons charges. These cases often turn on questions of knowledge, intent, and whether the accused was in lawful possession. We examine every aspect of the Crown's case and challenge any evidence that does not meet the required legal standard. The consequences of conviction are severe and we take every available point in your defence.
Matters we advise on
- Possession of a prohibited weapon
- Possession of a firearm without a certificate
- Possession of an offensive weapon
- Carrying a knife or blade in a public place
- Manufacturing or supplying prohibited weapons
- Possession with intent to endanger life
- Firearms offences aggravated by connection with other crime
Many firearms and weapons offences carry mandatory minimum sentences. Early instruction allows us to assess whether mandatory minimum provisions apply and to build the strongest possible case from the outset.
Rape & Other
Sexual Offences.
Sexual offence cases require sensitive handling, absolute discretion, and highly experienced legal representation. An allegation alone can carry severe personal, professional, and social consequences. Early instruction is essential.
V Good & Co advise clients from the point of police investigation — before any formal charge is made — through to trial. Sexual offence cases in Scotland often turn on credibility, the reliability of witness accounts, and corroboration. We ensure all available evidence is properly investigated and that you are fully informed at every stage of the process. All matters are handled with complete confidentiality.
Matters we advise on
- Rape and attempted rape
- Sexual assault
- Assault by penetration
- Indecent exposure
- Possession of indecent images
- Grooming and online sexual offences
- Historical sexual offences
- Voyeurism
- Offences under the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009
If you are under investigation, do not speak to the police before taking legal advice. You have the right to have a solicitor present during any interview. Call us immediately on 0131 622 3349.
Extradition.
Extradition proceedings are complex, specialist matters with serious consequences. Whether you are subject to a European Arrest Warrant or an extradition request from a third country, you need experienced legal representation urgently.
V Good & Co advise those subject to extradition proceedings in Scotland. These matters involve a distinct procedural framework, strict time limits, and specific grounds on which extradition can be resisted. We advise on all available grounds, including human rights considerations, the passage of time, double jeopardy, and proportionality. These cases are time-critical and require immediate action.
Matters we advise on
- European Arrest Warrant proceedings
- Extradition requests from non-European Union states
- Representation at extradition hearings
- Bail in extradition proceedings
- Appeals against extradition orders
- Human rights challenges to extradition
Extradition matters are subject to strict time limits. If you or someone you know is subject to an extradition warrant, contact us immediately on 0131 622 3349.
Legal Aid.
V Good & Co are registered with the Scottish Legal Aid Board and are committed to ensuring that everyone facing criminal charges has access to quality legal representation, regardless of their financial circumstances.
We advise on Legal Aid eligibility at your first consultation — which is always free. We apply to the Scottish Legal Aid Board on your behalf and aim to secure Criminal Legal Assistance for all those who qualify. For those who do not qualify, we offer competitive fixed fees agreed at the outset so you know the cost of your defence before we begin. No one should face criminal proceedings without proper representation because of cost.
What we can provide
- Advice and Assistance (including duty solicitor cover at the police station)
- Assistance by Way of Representation (ABWOR)
- Criminal Legal Aid for solemn proceedings
- Criminal Legal Aid for summary proceedings
- 24 hour Police Station Assistance
- Fixed fees for those not qualifying for Legal Aid
The first interview is always free, whatever your circumstances. Call us now on 0131 622 3349 to arrange your free initial consultation.
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