Howard Bernstein Solicitors - Ashton-under-Lyne

Nicola B.

I was accused of assaulting a police officer. What actually happened was, he asked me for my phone, I was in a state of shock so I was not really listening. He then came at me, pushing me against his car, I put my hands up to protect myself, he grabbed my arms and threw me to the floor, I was screaming as I was so scared, he ignored this and continued to lock my wrists together putting handcuffs on them. In that moment he decided to arrest me for assault. I couldn't believe it I was so shocked and scared and said what are you talking about you are the one that's assaulted me. I was in a car park at night on my own and wasn't sure what he was going to do. I told him that there was no need for what he did and told his 2 colleagues when they turned up that he had assaulted me and that he shouldn't be driving around on his own. They had no response and put me in a police van and took me to the police station. I was locked in a cell for approx 15 hours. On the 999 call to the police they were told by my partner that I was pregnant but this officer took no notice. His body camera footage just shows a scuffle between us but in the interview another police officer tried to make out I had put my arm up to hit him. It was a load of rubbish as I did what most people would do in that situation. I realised then that the police just stick together. I watched the footage and said yes do you see what he doing to me, he's aggressive this was just ignored. He had a small red mark on his cheek and I had bruising to my upper arm, wrists and knee. The police station took a picture of his cheek but none of my injuries. Howard Bernstein sent 1 letter acknowledging the arrest/bail but have not contacted or updated me since. The solicitor that attended the police station is always out of the office. Nothing has been done with regards to my accusation of assault against the police officer. I am consumed with worry everyday, I cannot think straight. It seems to me that Howard Bernstein Solicitors just arrive at the police station to note the incident but do little or nothing to speak out to protect or represent a person .

Elham

If there was an option for no stars I’ll pick that one because all these Solicters see in cases are cash cows. They just want your money. Howard Bernstein turned up to crown court for my brother on Monday with his gown falling off and he was even stuttering while talking to the judge. Very unprofessional service and he was even saying it’ll be easier if my brother pleaded guilty. Becky (my brothers appointed solicitor for the case) wouldn’t even talk to me and would avoid complete contact aswell. They have no cases at all and they weren’t even letting me transfer the case to the duty solicitors I wanted. Today my brothers bail has been rejected because of their poor work and now he’s behind bars on remand for another 4 months. Please avoid at all costs as all they want is your money!!!

John S.

Solicitors uncontactable, will not work in your interests. Do as little as possible for as much money as possible from legal aid. Avoid them at all costs

Paul G.

I was in a serious RTA and the head of the firm chose to allocate this disgraceful individual to manage my case, an individual who could have easily killed someone on this occasion in the article.

People who have almost been killed, by the actions of irresponsible people, have a right to know if one has been allocated to represent them in a crown court case.

Search the Manchester evening news website for; legal expert Diane Conway to see the article, where she was drink driving.

When I complained of the employees reprehensible actions in my case she was managing, the head of the firm tried to blackmail me, just before a major trial at crown court, saying that he will drop the case, if I continue with my complaint, he sounded like a spoiled child, even though he did not have sufficient grounds to stop my representation, just because I was forced to make a complaint because of his unprofessional employee, he soon backed down and told me a lie, saying Conway had not read and understood the correct procedure, he told me Conway would now do as I asked, if that was the truth, he wouldn't have tried blackmailing me first, which proved to me, that the man had absolutely no integrity.

There were other issues that she caused that stressed me almost to breaking point, contemplating suicide and worse, I had to fight my own defence harder than the prosecution, to make sure things were done as I instructed, I seriously believe, that my crown court caseworker and the barrister she got, who I had to sack, seemed to believe I lacked capacity, because I sustained a traumatic brain injury, even though it was proved through several forensic experts, I had more than enough capacity, to instruct and to stand trial, but it's as if she thought she should make decisions for me, I saw this as clearly discriminative, because I had sustained a traumatic brain injury.

Furthermore, when i attend a conference, I expect the crown court caseworker and my barrister to be on time, as there were serious issues that needed to be gone into, It is disgraceful, that my crown court caseworker turns up half an hour late and my barrister turns up over 45 minutes late, then when I should be in conference, my crown court case worker takes a private call, then goes out of the room to handle her private affairs with someone who she was seeing at the time, who she described as a cop, this is extremally unprofessional service and a clear insult.

Conway also advised me that if I pleaded guilty to a section 20 assault, that I wouldn't get prison, this was ridiculous advice, as I had already pleaded guilty to carrying a deadly weapon, had I pleaded guilty to a section 20, I would have certainly got a prison term, she had the gall to give this advice after she knew I didn't attack the individual and she gave this advice, thinking that I was so thick, that I would take it and I, an innocent man, who was acquitted of a section 18 and a 20, would be sent to prison, clearly as an attempted punishment, because I hit the roof over several issues she caused in the case.

These individuals really need to change their attitudes on how they interact with, treat and advise clients, because piling on additional unnecessary stress and not addressing issues, could have dire effects, especially with people who have gone through more trauma, than their privileged little self's could survive.

It is reprehensible that I was allocated this individual to represent me, when Bernstein knew full well what I had already suffered and I'm allocated a caseworker, who took it upon herself to get stinking drunk, get in her car and attempt to drive back to her home in Wythenshawe, thank god she was stopped before she mowed down a pedestrian and wrecked a families life, just as my life was wrecked by a similar, irresponsible, egocentric individual, who didn't have the moral fiber sufficient to think before she wrecked lives and did not possess the maturity to behave like an adult.

These individuals need to treat their clients better, or they increase the propensity of further violent crime.

Dean

Absolutely amazing law firm couldn’t fault is anyway.

Julie A. H. (.

Becky is a great person and a breath of fresh air,genuine,kind lovely and warm,thank you Becky for everything you did for me in court today ,I recommend
this solicitors to everyone.

lynn H.

Emma the solicitor is brilliant. Honest and genuine ans says it as it is.

Liam W.

Absolutely fantastic solicitors!