David Gittins
Partner and criminal defence solicitor David Gittins is a perfect example of this firm’s wish to recruit with a view to training the solicitors and partners of the future. After an initial period as a paralegal, David undertook his training as a solicitor with Fletchers solicitors before qualifying as a solicitor in 2008.
He has always specialised in criminal law, becoming a duty solicitor shortly after qualification. David continues to improve himself as an advocate including his completion of the Law Society vulnerable providing assurances to other court users that he has the skills to cross examine very young and vulnerable witnesses in the most serious cases before the Magistrates’ and Youth Court.
David has partnership responsibility for managing our Chesterfield office, taking responsibility for our move to the new premises on Beetwell Street in the town. His organisational skills mean that he is able to divide his time effectively between his management role and providing representation for his clients at the police station and Magistrates’ Courts.
Our clients will know that David is diligent, efficient and hard-working. Often he will spend time outside office hours to get work completed to ensure clients cases are fully prepared for the next hearing. David has embraced the introduction of digital and remote working. As a result he is able to respond to clients quickly wherever he is in order to answer questions, deal with concerns and put clients at ease.
Once a client had met David, they will value the fact that he is straight talking and approachable, whether they meet him in a formal setting such as in the police station or at court, or in Chesterfield town centre simply passing the time of day.
David will explain any case without the need to use complex legal terms. This ensures that clients fully understand all aspects of their case and feel comfortable in the, often unusual, environment in which they find themselves.
David’s strengths as a lawyer include examining each case on its own merits. He will make sure that there is evidence to prove each aspect of a case rather than taking the police or prosecution word for it. He will identify and focus on the true issues in any case, rather than becoming distracted by issues that cannot influence the outcome. His advocacy also invites any tribunal to identify with his client, meaning that each case is about his clients’ unique set of circumstances, whether that is a defence, the often complex reasons for committing a crime, or their family or other relevant situation. Each case becomes more than a simple application of any relevant guideline.
