James Harrison

Crime

James spent four months of pupillage with Simon Taylor KC and observed a wide variety of hearings, including trials for prison mutiny, rape, and grievous bodily harm.

James has, in his own right, undertaken trials in the Magistrates’ Court and the Youth Court and has appeared for both the prosecution and defence in other hearings including first appearances, case management hearings, committals for sentence and appeals against conviction and sentence.
James has also been instructed in the prosecution of Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 offences.

James is currently a Grade 2 Prosecutor and regularly accepts both prosecution and defence work.

Notable Cases

R v B
Represented a youth defendant charged with two offences of sexual assault against his 14-year-old female cousin. Between the alleged commission of the offence and the trial, B pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault committed against his mother. Following submissions, B was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge in the Youth Court.

R v T
Acquittal of defendant following successful argument of self-defence of property to prevent damage to trolley containing worldly possessions by homeless man alleged to have committed racially aggravated assault.

R v C
Secured a 12-month custodial term suspended for 24 months for defendant who had used her employment in a hospital to take a patient’s credit and debit cards, which were used over several weeks to withdraw almost £20,000 to purchase cocaine.

R v M
M suffered a traumatic brain injury as a young man. James represented him at sentence for 25 offences committed over two years, including a third domestic burglary attracting a mandatory minimum term. M was sentenced to a custodial term of 3 years 2 months following submissions relating to his mental health.

Environment

James spent four months of pupillage with Chris Badger during which time he observed a variety of environmental matters including multiple sentencing hearings dealing with Very Large Organisations that had committed offences under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. During this time, he gained an insight into both prosecution and defence work.

James has prosecuted on behalf of local authorities with regard to waste transit and fly-tipping offences. He has also acted for complainants in a noise nuisance case.

He is also a regular contributor to Chambers’ Environmental Law Blog.

Regulatory

James spent four months of pupillage being supervised by Mark Watson KC and Stuart Jessop. During this time, James researched the new Building Safety Bill and gained exposure to food law, large-scale disclosure exercises, and observed various hearings in the Magistrates’ Court.

In his own right, James has been instructed in multiple cases involving alleged breaches of inter alia food safety law and driving standards law, and he has been instructed as a case presenter for the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Awards

Gardiner Scholarship & Harmsworth Entrance Exhibition (2019) from The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

Certificate of Honour from The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

UKELA Dame Frances Patterson Moot (2019) Winner

UKELA Lord Slynn of Hadley Moot (2020) Winner

Memberships

Honourable Society of the Middle Temple

Criminal Bar Association

UKELA

Education

Bar Professional Training Course, BPP University (Outstanding)

Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP University (Commendation)

BA (Hons) History, University of Oxford (2:1)

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