[photo] Jessica Russell-Mitra (2003)Jessica Russell-Mitra (2003)

Teams

Crime

Education

B.A. (Honours) Latin and English Literature (University of Bristol)
Harmsworth Scholarship (Middle Temple)

Practice

Jessica has a wide practice in criminal law, appearing for defendants in Crown Courts (both as Led Junior and Junior alone), Magistrates' Courts, Youth Courts, stand-alone and post-conviction ASBO hearings, and prison discipline and parole hearings.

Jessica also advises and represents clients undertaking actions against the Police.

She defends in Health and Safety Law proceedings regularly and has been instructed most recently in a particularly complex fairground accident case.

She specialises in cases involving difficult clients or family members and has a particular interest in young defendants and those subject to the provisions of the Mental Health Act.

Recent interesting cases in the Crown Court have included:

  • conspiracies to defraud and associated PoCA proceedings
  • multi-handed armed robbery
  • ram raid style burglaries of "high end" jewellers
  • possession and manufacture of false identity document and immigration documents
  • commercial scale possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine and associated PoCA proceedings

Jessica has been instructed as junior counsel in a 14 count misconduct in public office trial (R -v- John-Ayo), and in a multi-handed case of conspiracy to defraud.

Profile

Jessica's background is in community work having been a dedicated adviser at Lewisham Law Centre, Toynbee Hall Legal Centre and with the Witness Service. She continues to undertake pro-bono cases, reviewing evidence in capital and non-capital offences with Oury Clark Solicitors.

Jessica is a member of Middle Temple, CBA, Liberty, The Howard League for Penal Reform, and a regular supporter of the Longford Trust.

When not dancing (ballet, samba, jive etc) or cycling, Jessica regularly attends theatre, dance, music, poetry and art events.

Jessica believes that this is a crucial time for ensuring that civil liberties are preserved; the cause must be supported on a case-by-case basis because, without committed defence, there would be greater social injustice, state control, and a pool of dangerous anger. She also enjoys fighting in adversity and championing difficult cases.