Called: 2021
Megan Edwards
Megan Edwards joined Chambers as a tenant in 2023 following the successful completion of her pupillage.
Megan accepts instructions in all areas of Crime. She has developed a broad and busy practice, both prosecuting and defending in the Crown and Magistrates’ Court. She has been instructed on a range of cases including; drugs, fraud, robbery, domestic violence and assault offences.
She also accepts instructions on road traffic and driving matters in the Magistrates’ Court, and has a successful record in Exceptional Hardship and Special Reasons arguments.
Megan has a particular interest in criminal and human rights law involving prisoner rights, mental health and actions against public bodies. Having worked with ex-prisoners during her time at university in Northern Ireland, Megan has a commitment to access to justice.
Megan also spent time in Cape Town, South Africa where she worked as part of a team delivering workshops and outreach programmes in juvenile detention centres, as well as providing legal clinics in the townships to assist clients with advice and representation on a variety of criminal, family and property law issues.
Excellence Through Continuity of Representation
Education
LLB Law (Hons); Queen’s University Belfast – First Class Honours
LLM Human Rights Law; Queen’s University Belfast – Commendation
PgDip Bar Practice Course; Northumbria University – Distinction
Awards
Rachel Lawrence Scholarship Award
Mansion House Scholarship Award
Northumbria Bar Course Scholarship Award
James MacQuitty Law Scholarship Award
The K N Cheung and S K Chin Scholarships Award
Megan is regularly commended for her friendly demeanour, sensitive and empathetic handling of vulnerable clients lacking capacity – both adults and children – who have a range of disabilities including dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, autism and Tourette’s Syndrome.
Megan also worked in diversity, inclusion and social mobility for a number of years as part of Queen’s University Belfast’s Widening Participation Unit (WPU), with the aim of empowering those students from backgrounds that are ‘most able but least likely’ to progress to higher education. Megan remains passionate about diversity, inclusion and social mobility, particularly in the legal profession.
Notable Cases
R v AD [2023] – Crown Court – Instructed to defend in a multi-handed drugs case involving cannabis. Successfully applied and argued for dismissal of all charges against my client.
R v KZ [2023] – Crown Court – Instructed to prosecute sentence for a fraud where the Defendant had stolen over £250,ooo from his elderly mother who had lost capacity. Reported nationally.
R v KP [2023] – Crown Court – Instructed to prosecute sentence for a transgender prisoner who had sexually assaulted prison guards while on remand. Reported nationally.
R v FB [2023] – Crown Court – Successfully persuaded the Court to impose a Community Order for a s47 Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm where the Defendant had been drinking and assaulted the Complainant in two separate incidents.
R v DD [2023] – Crown Court – Prosecuted sentence where a drunk passenger had been removed from a Ryanair flight.
R v CF [2023] – Instructed to represent Defendant in multi-handed Affray where incident went on for prolonged period of time, in view of children, and Defendant had knocked out one of his co-Defendants during the incident. Successfully persuaded the Court to impose a Suspended Sentence Order.
R v H [2023] – Crown Court – Instructed to defend a youth in appeal against sentence for 4x counts of Robbery and Possession of a Bladed Weapon . Successfully persuaded the court to reduced the sentence by 1/3rd, from 15 to 10 months custody.
R v J [2023] – Crown Court – Instructed to represent Defendant who pleaded guilty to 2 counts of Breach of a SHPO and Failure to Comply with Notification Requirements, one of which was committed in breach of a Suspended Sentence Order. Successfully persuaded the court to impose a further Suspended Sentence Order, and mark the breach of the other SSO by imposition of additional RAR days.
R v SY [2023] – Magistrates’ Court – Instructed to represent the Defendant in an Exceptional Hardship application where had pleaded guilty to 2 offences: speeding and s172 (failure to furnish) and was liable for disqualification as a ‘totter’. Successfully persuaded the Bench to not impose any penalty points, and disqualify for a discretionary period of 14 days.
R v LW [2023] – Magistrates’ Court – Instructed to represent the Defendant in a Special Reasons Hearing following a guilty plea for driving without insurance, where the imposition of penalty points would result in disqualification. Successfully persuaded the court to find special reasons, avoiding the endorsement of any penalty points on the Defendant’s licence, and Defendant receiving an absolute discharge for the offence.
R v JL [2023] – Magistrates’ Court – Instructed to represent Defendant for a Stalking offence which was prolonged and caused very serious distress to Complainant (A1 on Guideline). Successfully persuaded the Court to impose a Community Order.
R v LA [2023] – Magistrates’ Court – Instructed to represent Defendant for drink driving where blew 94mg in breath. Successfully persuaded the Court to move out of the band on Sentencing Guidelines and impose a financial penalty, rather than Community Order.