Peter Conchie Email & Phone Number

Prison law, public law (judicial review) and appeals against sentence and conviction.Short term goal: three months non-contentious work to complete qualification as a solicitor (previously qualified as a barrister);Medium term goal: acquire prison law supervisor standard and practice as a solicitor using skills in advocacy and public law;Long term goal: partner at an ethical public law practice using skills in public law and mediaSpecialties: Rights of foreign national prisoners and judicial review. Writing and editing (10 years experience on national newspapers).

• 

  Prison Law Adviser (And Journalist)

  Bobbetts Mackan Solicitors

  Sep 2007 - Present

  Since 2007 I have been a prison law adviser at Bobbetts Mackan Solicitors in Bristol representing clients in prisons around the country. I am scheduled to qualify as a solicitor in March 2010 at the latest having passed the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (for qualified UK barristers) in October 2009. Once I have completed three-months non-contentious work I will be qualified as a solicitor.I have experience of representing prisoners at Parole Board hearings, independent adjudications… Show more Since 2007 I have been a prison law adviser at Bobbetts Mackan Solicitors in Bristol representing clients in prisons around the country. I am scheduled to qualify as a solicitor in March 2010 at the latest having passed the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test (for qualified UK barristers) in October 2009. Once I have completed three-months non-contentious work I will be qualified as a solicitor.I have experience of representing prisoners at Parole Board hearings, independent adjudications and recall hearings, and advising serving prisoners on all aspects of their legal rights. I have particular expertise in the rights of foreign national prisoners. I also have considerable experience in judicial review with two cases currently at the High Court. I previously qualified as a barrister (2003) and was Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) in 2007.When the scheme is rolled out by the Legal Services Commission in December 2009 I will be one of the very few legal professionals in the south west to qualify as a “prison law supervisor”. This is in recognition of the fact that I will have well in excess of the required 350 hours per year prison law experience and that my files have been recognised as competent by the LSC. According to current estimates by the LSC I will be the only prison law professional in Bristol and Avon to qualify.Previously I was a national newspaper journalist (writer and editor) at a range of newspapers including The Guardian, The Mail on Sunday and The Independent and magazines including Time Out and Grand Designs. Columnist at The Independent on Sunday for five years (The Hoofer) and TV critic, sports reporter and travel writer at The Independent and IoS (search www.independent.co.uk for examples of my work).As a journalist I have contributed in last 12 months to The Independent and 220 Triathlon.I am currently developing two book proposals on the themes of gardening and urban planning. Show less