Extradition is a complex and unique area of the law involving the transfer of people from one country to another to allow them to be tried for a crime or to serve an existing sentence.

If you find yourself facing extradition from the UK, you need expert legal representation on your side to navigate the complicated procedure and give you the best possible chance of a satisfactory outcome.

You need an extradition lawyer.

In this article, we will look at the role of extradition lawyers in the UK, what they do, how to find a good one, and how they can help you.

Extradition in the UK

Extradition is a legal process where one country makes a request for the return of an individual currently residing in another. The UK currently has extradition agreements with over 100 different countries, some covered by treaties encompassing a large number of different nations and some exclusively detailing the extradition process between just two.

Extradition works both ways. The UK can request a person is returned to their country to face criminal charges, and a foreign nation can request the same of the UK.

Just because there is an extradition agreement in place, however, does not mean that the request will be successful, and this is where extradition lawyers come in.

What do extradition lawyers do?

Extradition lawyers are highly qualified lawyers who specialise in cases involving international extradition law.

They will guide their clients who are facing extradition proceedings through the court process, helping to develop and execute defence strategies to be used at the Magistates’ Court in London, the place where almost all extradition cases in the UK are heard.

They are passionate about defending the rights of their clients and will consider a wide range of different options for challenging an extradition request.

Just some of the reasons that an extradition request may be denied are if the crime a person is accused of is not a crime in the UK, or if there is a genuine risk to the safety of the individual.

If a person faces the death penalty upon their return, the UK will not grant an extradition request, and countries such as the USA making extradition requests will be required to guarantee that the death penalty will not be applied in this instance to have a chance of being successful.

If an extradition request is granted despite the best efforts of your lawyer, you will have a chance to appeal, and extradition lawyers will help file these and ensure your appeal is submitted in the proper manner.

As well as representing their clients in court in a similar manner to a criminal or corporate lawyer, extradition lawyers will often be consulted by human rights groups or by national Governments. They dedicate their lives to the study of extradition law and its application and are considered as reliable authorities on the topic. They will also sometimes be asked to mediate negotiations between nations that lead to reduced sentences or non-criminal resolutions.