Amber-Lee is a paralegal at the Tuckers Kent branch, currently working on Crown Court casework under the supervision of Nicola Hall.

After recently completing her Law Degree (LLB), from Royal Holloway University of London - where she was an active member of the Law Society and 93% Club, Amber-Lee became drawn to a future in Criminal Defence.

Prior to joining Tuckers as a paralegal, she spent part of her summer assisting and shadowing Nicola Hall at both the Magistrates and Crown Court, gaining valuable experience across a range of serious and non-serious offences. She also worked as a paralegal in a large Civil Litigation firm.

Inspired by the Innocence Project, Amber-Lee is dedicated to advocating for individual rights, their access to justice and fair representation.

She prides herself in her passion for criminal justice and her unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for her clients.

Amber-Lee looks to qualify as a Solicitor and is committed to expanding her expertise, to deliver legal support to those most vulnerable.

Summer joined Tuckers Solicitors in January 2024 as a qualified solicitor, specialising in Criminal Defence.

Summer is a Duty Qualified Solicitor and Police Station Accredited; she intends to complete her Higher Rights of Audience in the coming months.

Summer completed her Law degree with Honours (LLB) at the University of Surrey before going on to complete her master’s in professional legal Practice (LLM) and Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the University of Law. Her keen desire to pursue a career in Criminal Law started from a young age; she completed her first legal work experience at Canterbury Crown Court at the age of 16, before going on to enhance her experience in several local law firms.

Summer tailored her degree, masters and LPC around juvenile offenders, looking into why young people fall into a life of crime and how their incarceration impacts rates of recidivism.

Summer has a genuine passion for Criminal Law, supporting individuals throughout a challenging time in their lives and enhancing a client’s legal rights throughout both the police station and court process.

Tara started her legal career as an apprentice in Auction Conveyancing in 2016 and started her Law Degree at the University of Kent in 2017, graduating in 2021. She completed her Legal Practice Course with Masters Award at the University of Law in the summer of 2023 and began her Solicitors Qualifying Exams Part 2 in November 2023. She aims to qualify as a Solicitor in 2024. Tara is also training to be a Police Station Accredited Representative.

Tara is a member of the Kent Law Society General Purposes Committee, working on the Junior Lawyer and Education sub-committees. She is also a mentor with GROW Mentoring and works with a number of law students to assist them with the start of their legal careers by providing advice and guidance.

Tara has a strong passion for Criminal Law and supporting individual’s rights throughout the court process.

Ross joined Tuckers Kent Branch in September 2023. He is currently assisting with Crown Court casework under the supervision of Nicola Hall.

Ross has recently graduated from the University of Kent. Whilst completing his Law degree, Ross was actively involved in the Student Outdoor Clerk Scheme where he assisted Counsel and reported the proceedings of Crown Court trials.

Prior to joining the firm, Ross was accredited as an appropriate adult. He currently volunteers to assist vulnerable individuals whilst in Police Custody.

Megan joined Tuckers Solicitors in 2022 as a Trainee Solicitor and is due to qualify as a solicitor in 2023. Prior to joining the firm Megan worked at a Family Law firm from 2020 – 2022 as a paralegal and then Trainee Solicitor.

Megan has a 2:1 Law Degree which she completed at Canterbury Christ Church University. Whilst completing her Law Degree, Megan volunteered at Canterbury Combined Court as a Community Legal Companion to offer legal assistance to the public who did not qualify for legal aid. Megan also volunteered at the Citizens Advice Bureau as an adviser to the public where she assisted those most vulnerable in society by providing them with her legal knowledge.

Megan was shortlisted for “Junior Lawyer of the Year 2022” in the Kent Law Society 2022 awards and in Megan’s first year in her role as a paralegal she was a finalist for Inspirational Women in Law Awards for Paralegal of the Year 2021.  In January 2020 Megan won the UK Student Mediation Competition 2020 in Glasgow and was awarded 2nd Best Individual Mediator.

Megan is also the founder and director of Women in Law Kent. Megan believes it is fundamental to create an equal profession for future generations. Women in Law Kent’s goal is to empower, support and connect women who work and aspire to work, in law.

Megan has a genuine passion to provide individual’s access to justice by being that helping hand at such an emotive time in someone’s life.

Tahir is a Duty Solicitor and attends both Courts and Police Station. He has extensive experience in defending clients accused of most types of offence, and takes a particular interest in vulnerable clients and has experience of dealing with clients having learning difficulties.

Tahir qualified in 1994 having trained with a City firm, and gained his initial grounding in criminal defence with Robin Murray & Co in South East London. Since qualifying he has continuously undertaken criminal defence work, and was a founding member of a specialist criminal practice in Kent.

Prior to joining Tuckers Tahir worked for a Medway firm where he worked on both family law and criminal cases, focusing particularly on relationships breakdowns involving criminal elements.

Tahir is fluent in spoken Punjabi.

Faouzia is a Trainee Solicitor and fully Police Station Accredited. She is currently assisting with Crown Court casework under the supervision of Nicola Hall. Faouzia is determined to ensure the best results of her clients.

Faouzia has been praised by clients and counsels for her surgical analysis of the issues that arise in complex Crown Court cases. Faouzia is particularly passionate to assist clients with serious mental health issues.

Prior joining to the firm, Faouzia was an active member at the Kent Law Clinic. She also completed a prestigious legal internship at Guernica 37 International Justice where she assisted chambers on international criminal law matters, prison law and Parole Board appeals. Faouzia also volunteered as a Pro-Bono caseworker in a notable charity Intervene Project. Faouzia assisted prisoners in matters concerning medical negligence, property disputes and mistreatment from prisoner officers.

Faouzia is highly motivated to ensure that clients receive a fair trial and criminal defence.

Richard Atkinson is the Managing Partner of the Kent Branch who qualified in 1990. He specialises in preparing and supervising our serious and complex cases and is rated as “outstanding” by the ‘Good Lawyer Guide’. Read More

Linas praktikuoja Anglijoje, specializuojasi baudžiamosios teisės srityje, ekstradicijos bei pasienio reikaluose ir paprastai dirba su lietuviškai bei rusiškai kalbančiais klientais, tiek fiziniais, tiek juridiniais asmenimis. Read More

Nerijus is a police station representative who is bi-lingual - speaking both English and Lithuanian.

Nicola is an experienced caseworker with over 12 years in this role. She started her career with Shingleton Neilson in April 2004, who merged to become Kent Defence in 2011. Read More

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Sadie joined Kent Defence Solicitors in August 2014 as a Crown Court Caseworker. Previously having had over 25 years’ experience in the legal field, she was able to bring her knowledge and expertise from previous firms having dealt with predominately criminal defence work. Read More

Nicola specialises in preparing and supervising our serious and complex cases. Nicola's team offers a top-class criminal defence service to all our clients, whatever their circumstances. You can expect total peace of mind as you engage with our strong and dedicated criminal defence team.

Nicola joined Robin Murray & Co in 2014, she qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and has worked in criminal defence since 2001. She is a qualified duty solicitor and fully accredited police station representative, advising and representing clients at all levels of the criminal justice system.

Nicola is a dedicated solicitor, she prides herself on her thorough preparation and attention to detail. She is determined to get the best possible result for each and every one of her clients.

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Simon is a highly respected advocate who has developed a strong client following. Simon represents clients facing a wide range of criminal allegations. Read More

Ashley studied law at Kingston University before completing her studies at Guildford Law School in 2002. She qualified as a Solicitor in 2004 and worked solely in criminal law throughout Kent, before moving to Surrey to continue with criminal defence work there and in London. Read More

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Scott has practiced as a criminal solicitor in Kent for many years becoming the head of a successful crime department in 1997 with a leading firm until setting up his own firm Shingleton Neilson on 2003. Read More

Paul Shingleton has been part of the East Kent Justice system for many years. Having qualified in Economics/History at Leeds University in 1986, he remained in Leeds to pass his Law Society Finals. Read More

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Victoria is a Crown Court Caseworker in our Margate office. She is an experienced member of the team, having been in this role for 10 years.  She started her career with Shingleton Neilson Solicitors in September 2006.  In 2010, Shingleton Neilson merged with Goldspring Jones, two criminal law firms in Kent, to become Kent Defence, the largest criminal law firm in East Kent.

Victoria’s caseload covers an assortment of criminal matters ranging from murder, serious sexual offences, facilitation and importation of drugs and weapons.  She regularly attends Prisons in order to obtain instructions from clients in custody.  Victoria also attends Crown Court to clerk hearings and assist Counsel.  Victoria is a dedicated to obtaining the best possible result for her clients.

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