Paul Prior > The 36 Group > London, England > Barrister Profile

Paul Prior

Work Department

36 Crime

Position

Paul’s practice is predominantly in Crime. He is regularly instructed to appear for the Defence and Prosecution. He is a Grade 4 CPS RASSO (Rape and Serious sexual offences) prosecutor. He specialises in cases with complex legal issues.

He regularly defends in cases Homicide, serious sexual offending (including rape and child sexual exploitation), arson (with intent to endanger life), large–scale supply of drugs and fraud. He is regularly instructed in firearms matters, including cases where firearms are used to commit serious crime. He has an excellent knowledge of computers and cell-site technology, leading to his instruction by CPS complex Casework Units in a variety of cases. One example in 2019 was an instruction to prosecute a significant revenge hacking cyber attack by a disgruntled former employee – see https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/samir-desai-sutton-coldfield-warwickshire-15676312.

Paul has a particular interest in Health and Safety law and associated regulatory offences. He has appeared in numerous Local Authority and HSE-prosecuted cases including gross negligence manslaughter. Paul is also consulted by Local Authorities in cases involving unusual or complicated Anti–Social Behaviour Orders.

Paul is often instructed in cases that require a robust challenge to Police evidence and / or legal challenges to admissibility of Police evidence. Paul takes a thorough approach to preparation, offers written advice on each set of instructions and is briefed in cases that require careful consideration and analysis of significant tracts of documentary and telephone evidence.

In cases involving novel points of law, Paul will undertake the necessary research and draft the appropriate skeleton argument.

Paul has dealt with cases in the Court of Appeal as well as Administrative Court matters. Paul defended in the case of R v Singh [2015] 2 Cr. App. R. (S.) 14, where a £1m Confiscation Order was quashed by the Court of Appeal.

Paul has experience in a wide variety of County Court matters and is a qualified mediator. He regularly presents lectures on new elements of law and has done so for Leicestershire Law Society, individual Firms and his Chambers. Paul is a facilitator for training other advocates in the questioning of Vulnerable Witnesses. Paul jointly runs the Leicestershire Schools Trials Competition which allows state school children between 13-16 to take part in mock trials at Leicester Crown Court. Paul was awarded Leicestershire Law Society’s Barrister of the Year in 2015.

Paul is a member of the Criminal Bar Association.

Career

Called 2003; Lincoln’s Inn; Accredited Mediator.

Areas of experience:
Homicide
Health and Safety
Cybercrime

Memberships

Midland Circuit; Criminal Bar Association.

Barrister of the Year, Leicestershire Law Society (2015).

Education

Birmingham University (2001 LLB (Hons) Law); Nottingham Trent University (2002 BVC).

Leisure

Paul plays violin and he sings in the Leicester Philharmonic Choir. He is the joint General Secretary of the Choir and particularly enjoys travelling with the choir to sing abroad. Paul is also a season ticket holder at Leicester City and enjoys 5 a-side football.