I am really grateful to for his representation and what I felt to be a clear passion for justice and getting the best for me
Alexander McColl has a fast-developing multi-disciplinary practice in crime and protest rights, housing, parole board, mental health and judicial review.
He also maintains a keen interest in human rights and social security law about which he has written several articles:
Prior to joining chambers, Alexander worked as an Adviser at Citizens Advice for a number of years, where he provided specialist advice and casework on debt, benefits and housing issues. He has also worked at a Students’ Union Advice Centre, where he advised students on housing and discrimination issues and represented students at disciplinary panels. He was also formerly a volunteer benefits adviser with the Greater Manchester Law Centre, a volunteer on the Sheffield Innocence Project (part of what was the Innocence Network UK), and an elected member of the Policy Council at Liberty. While at BPP Manchester, he volunteered on the BPP Legal Advice Clinic.
Alexander was awarded first place in the Law Society’s Graham Turnbull Essay Competition in 2017, on the issue of civil claims against the armed forces for breaches of human rights in situations of conflict. He also published an article in the Young Human Rights Lawyer Journal in 2018 on the case of R (TP and AR) v SSWP [2018] EWHC 1474 (Admin), which related to transitional protections for people claiming disability benefits under Universal Credit.
Alexander attended the University of Sheffield where he studied an MA in Global Politics and Law following his LLB Law with German which incorporated an ERASMUS year at the Freie Universität Berlin. He then completed the BPTC at BPP University Manchester.
Alexander is fluent in German.
He is a currently a member of Liberty, Young Legal Aid Lawyers and Haldane Society.
Alexander accepts instructions in the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court. He has a growing practise in the Magistrates’ Court in relation to driving offences, representing defendants at all stages of proceedings from first appearance through to sentence or trial, but has also represented defendants charged with criminal damage, aggravated trespass, going equipped to burgle, resisting a constable and common assault.
Alexander accepts instructions in the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court. He has a growing practise in the Magistrates’ Court in relation to driving offences, representing defendants at all stages of proceedings from first appearance through to sentence or trial, but has also represented defendants charged with criminal damage, aggravated trespass, going equipped to burgle, resisting a constable and common assault.
Alexander keenly follows developments in the law relating to protest rights and has published on recent legislative developments restricting the right to protest in the context of a trend in case law limiting the scope of Article 10 and 11.
Alexander has appeared in the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court in the criminal defence of protestors and appreciates the unique nature of a preparing a defence in such matters. Alexander successfully defended two protesters charged with aggravated trespass following a successful submission of no case to answer based on the adequacy of evidence regarding land boundaries.
He has represented defendants charged with aggravated trespass, going equipped to burgle, criminal damage and breach of conditions under s.14 of the Public Order Act 1986. He has a familiarity with the elements of common protest offences and defences.
Alexander has a fast-growing housing practice and appears regularly in the County Court in possession proceedings, housing disrepair and committals for contempt of court.
Alexander represents tenants in directions hearings and at trial and is able to draft statements of case and advise on all aspects of landlord and tenant matters, including anti-social behaviour, housing conditions, discrimination and public law matters.
With a background as an adviser at Citizens Advice, Alexander has a particular advantage in cases involving welfare benefits, applications under the Debt Respite Scheme and clients who are particularly vulnerable due to mental health or incapacity.
Alexander appears regularly in Parole Board hearings and is looking to expand his prison law practice. He has represented a range of clients including lifers, IPP and recalled determinate sentence prisoners and keeps abreast of developments in the law and guidance relating to parole. Alexander has made oral and written submissions on applications for release, applications for transfer to open conditions and challenges to the appropriateness of a decision to recall.
Alexander also advises on the merits of an application for redetermination or judicial review of the decisions of the Parole Board and is able to draft grounds in judicial review cases.
Alexander appears at hearings of the Mental Health Tribunal on behalf of clients detained under s.2 and s.3 MHA. He has also appeared in complex cases involving restricted patients and is able to address situations involving questions of capacity and challenges to diagnosis.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Alexander worked as a welfare rights adviser at Citizens Advice and at a Students’ Union. He has an in-depth knowledge of the benefits system and was previously an IMA-accredited debt adviser. He has previously provided representation in benefits appeals in the FTT and is in a strong position to advise on appeals to the Upper Tribunal.
Alexander maintains an up-to-date knowledge of social security law and has written several articles aimed at assisting welfare rights advisers bring challenges:
Alexander accepts instructions to advise on judicial review in social security matters and on applications for legal aid funding in such matters.
Alexander is a currently a member of Liberty, Young Legal Aid Lawyers and Haldane Society.
English
German
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