Samantha Ball > 3TG Barristers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Samantha Ball

Career

Samantha practises in all areas of criminal and extradition law in publicly and privately funded cases. She regularly appears in Magistrates’, Youth and Crown Courts. Samantha is developing particular experience with complex and grave cases in the Youth Court, especially in cases involving GBH s. 18, GBH s. 20, robbery and weapons offences.

Samantha is known to meticulously prepare her cases, including navigating complex legal and factual issues. She is a capable and friendly trial advocate who is quickly able to gain the trust of her clients. This was recognised when Samantha was recently awarded with a Criminal Bar Association bursary for excellence in advocacy.

Samantha joined chambers in May 2021 after a successful pupillage. Prior to pupillage, she worked as a paralegal in a number of leading criminal defence firms. She gained particular experience of financial and serious crime during this time. Samantha also worked as a paralegal at the Infected Blood Inquiry and has a good understanding of public and inquiry law.

Samantha teaches advocacy and aids legal education through her work with projects involving school and university students. She also volunteers with charities to provide understanding of associated areas of criminal law, particularly on county lines drugs cases and modern slavery legislation.

Notable Cases- Crime

R v BD (2021): The Crown discontinued this case following numerous skeleton arguments, including an abuse of process argument. The issue was that BD should no longer be subject to the notification requirements that he was accused of failing to comply with due to a previously unidentified legal error which occurred in 2003.

R v AM (2021): In this youth case, the Crown accepted a plea to GBH s. 20 as an alternative to the GBH s. 18 originally charged following submissions. AM received a referral order.

R v MW (2021): Secured an acquittal in an Environment Agency fly-tipping case, despite hundreds of photographs of MW at the site.

R v JE (2021): Secured an acquittal in respect of an alleged assault by beating deriving from a ‘road rage’ incident in which a weapon was used. The issue was self-defence.

R v JO (2021): Persuaded the Crown to offer no evidence to GBH s. 18 and affray charges in the youth court by submitting that they could not prove there was a joint enterprise.

R v DL (2021): Successfully opposed the Crown’s application to admit DL’s thirteen previous convictions for the same kind of drugs offence.

R v CH (2020): Secured a youth’s acquittal when he was tried for taking a moped without the owner’s consent.

R v RH (2020): Secured acquittals in respect of: dangerous driving, failing to stop for a police officer, failing to stop at a red light and failing to comply with a non-endorsable traffic sign.

R v GE (2020): Successfully opposed the Crown’s bad character application and secured GE’s acquittal of a domestic common assault.

R v PD (2020): Instructed by St Albans’ MC to cross-examine the sole prosecution witness under s.38. The judge said that the witness was ‘very capably questioned’. PD was acquitted of both charges.

R v SM (2020): Successfully opposed a hearsay application in respect of two primary witness statements. Consequently, the Crown offered no evidence in this youth robbery case.

R v FS (2020): Secured the acquittal of a youth accused of GBH s. 20 on a joint enterprise basis.

R v OK (2020): Secured the acquittal of OK in respect of two common assaults. The alleged assaults were said to have been captured on CCTV.

R v DD (2020): Secured an acquittal in respect of a common assault against DD’s pregnant partner; the incident was alleged to have been captured on video. The Crown offered no evidence on the ABH and criminal damage charges.

R v MG (2020): Secured a 12-month conditional discharge for a youth convicted of dangerous driving, failure to provide a specimen, driving without a license or insurance, and three fraud charges.

Extradition

Samantha has acted in an array of extradition cases involving numerous countries and issues. Notably, she has successfully made an Article 8 argument in respect a requested person’s family life which resulted in extradition proceedings being discharged against her client after the final extradition hearing.

 

Memberships

Inner Temple
Criminal Bar Association

Education

LLM (Master of Laws) Professional Legal Practice (Distinction), BPP University (2017-2019)
Bar Professional Training Course (Very Competent), BPP University (2016-2017)
Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP University (2015-2016)
BA Hons. Combined Honours in Arts (Philosophy & Sociology) (2:1), Durham University (2012-2015)
Marshall Hall Trust Pupillage Award – Inner Temple
Winner of the Rawlinson Cup Debate Final 2018 – Inner Temple
World Universities Debating Championship 2018 in Mexico City – representing Inner Temple