Joseph Lord
Joseph Lord specialises in criminal law, with a busy practice both prosecuting and defending in serious crime.
In his defence work, Joseph enjoys building a good relationship with clients, and is experienced in working with those who have additional vulnerabilities. His defence practice is increasingly involving cases of a more complex and serious nature. Joseph also has a busy practice defending in private motoring offences.
Joseph is regularly instructed to prosecute criminal offences by government bodies, particularly in fraud cases relating to Bounce Back Loans obtained during the Covid-19 pandemic. He is also on the CPS General Crime Panel at grade 2, with recent CPS instructions including a multi-handed conspiracy to burgle involving the theft of motor vehicles worth over £1 million in total.
Joseph is also developing a practice in professional discipline.
Notable cases
R v FB (Croydon Crown Court) – FB was charged with a racially aggravated offence. After a four-day trial involving the cross-examination of the complainant and four independent prosecution witnesses, scrutiny of CCTV and phone videos, and defence evidence, FB was unanimously acquitted.
R v TH (Southwark Crown Court) – a knife was found under the driver’s seat of a car driven by TH. Following a three-day trial involving extensive cross-examination of police officers and successful legal argument opposing a prosecution application to adduce bad character evidence, TH was unanimously acquitted.
R v MAJ (Isleworth Crown Court) – having been convicted after trial of various offences of assisting unlawful immigration, MAJ received a suspended sentence after extensive mitigation relying on sentencing authorities and personal mitigation. The offences will normally result in immediate custody.
R v SB (Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court) – successful submission of no case to answer in sexual assault trial. The submission followed cross-examination of two prosecution witnesses which highlighted inconsistencies between their evidence, and between the complainant’s live evidence and her first account at the scene.
R v K (Croydon Crown Court) – after full mitigation, secured a youth rehabilitation order for K, who had pleaded guilty to causing GBH with intent with a machete whilst 17, in breach of a referral order, and then been committed for sentence.
R v KW (Inner London Crown Court) – secured suspended sentence for KW, who was arrested at the disorder in Whitehall prompted by the murder of three children by Axel Rudakubana in Southport. KW was the only person to avoid immediate imprisonment for offences committed during the disorder.
R v DL (Magistrates’ Court) – DL was charged with stealing money from the self-checkout machines of the supermarket where he worked, which appeared to be captured on CCTV. Following cross-examination of the supermarket investigator which focussed on a flawed and biased investigation, DL was acquitted.
Appointments and Professional Memberships
- CPS General Crime: Level 2.
- Youth Court – registered advocate.
- The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.
- Criminal Bar Association.
- Young Fraud Lawyers Association.
Education
- 2021-2022: Bar Practice Course, Inns of Court College of Advocacy.
- 2017-2020: Law (LLB), University College London.
Scholarships and Prizes
- 2021-2022: Leonard Sainer Scholar, Leonard Sainer Foundation. Full funding of Bar Practice Course.
- 2022: Winner, Michael Corkery QC Criminal Law Moot.
- 2021: Winner, Bar Council Law Reform Essay Competition.
Call: 2022
Specialist Areas
VAT number: 463267187