Criminal defence · Gibraltar
Facing a theft allegation? Speak to a theft lawyer in Gibraltar who knows the courts.
Gibraltar is a separate jurisdiction with its own courts, its own legal profession and English as its working language. Tell us briefly what has happened and we will match you, free of charge, with a practitioner who handles theft allegations here. You then decide, in your own time, whether to instruct them.
- Free, confidential matching with no obligation
- Solicitors and barristers of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar
- Support from the first enquiry through to appeal
We are a matching service, not a law firm, and we never share your details with anyone other than the practitioner we match you with.
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Tell us about your situation and receive a free, confidential case review.
Theft allegations in Gibraltar
A local system needs a locally admitted defence
If you are under investigation, have been arrested or face a charge of theft in Gibraltar, the first hours and weeks shape everything that follows. Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory with its own legal system, its own courts and its own legal profession, so a defence built around English procedure alone will not fit. A theft lawyer in Gibraltar works inside that local framework — the Magistrates’ Court, where criminal matters begin, and the Supreme Court of Gibraltar, whose criminal jurisdiction is comparable to that of the English Crown Court, with trials generally heard by jury. Advocates here may hold a fused barrister-and-solicitor practice, so one practitioner can advise you and conduct the advocacy. Tell us what has happened and we will match you, free of charge, with a solicitor or barrister who handles theft cases in Gibraltar.
Gibraltar in detail
How criminal work is organised in Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory with its own Constitution, Parliament and courts, and its law is based on English common law, the rules of equity and statutes of general application as modified by local legislation. Criminal and family matters begin in the Magistrates’ Court, while the Supreme Court handles the more serious criminal and civil work. The time limits in the table below come from Gibraltar’s own Limitation Act.
How criminal cases move through the Gibraltar courts
Criminal matters are dealt with at first instance by the Magistrates’ Court, presided over by a Stipendiary Magistrate or a bench of lay magistrates. The Supreme Court of Gibraltar exercises a criminal jurisdiction comparable to that of the English Crown Court; its criminal trials are generally heard by jury, with lay assessors available instead of a jury in complex financial trials.
Who is allowed to represent you
Representation before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal is by barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar. Solicitors must hold a current practising certificate, renewable annually and issued by the Registrar. The Legal Services Act 2017 established the Legal Services Regulatory Authority, the Register of Authorised Persons and the Code of Conduct 2023 covering conduct and discipline.
A fused profession: one practitioner, two roles
Section 29(2) of the Supreme Court Act provides that a person admitted and enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar ‘shall be at liberty to act also as a barrister’. Many Gibraltar practices therefore hold a dual capacity, and the same person may advise you and conduct the advocacy. For complex matters or the higher courts, specialist barristers are often instructed.
Legal aid for criminal proceedings
Part I of the Legal Aid and Assistance Act (Act 1960-23) provides criminal legal aid for persons committed for trial, for appellants and for proceedings before the magistrates’ court. Assistance is means-tested: it is available where income does not exceed £5,000 a year, and an applicant with capital above £350 must be refused unless it appears that they cannot afford to proceed without it. A merits test also applies.
Costs, fees and what you actually pay for
Professional fees for Gibraltar barristers and solicitors in private practice are not fixed by statute or by a public tariff; they are agreed between lawyer and client. Court fees are charged separately and are generally borne by the party who incurs them. In civil litigation the court has a discretion over costs, and Schedule 6 to the Supreme Court Rules 2000 sets the fees for a detailed assessment.
Appeals and the final word in London
The Supreme Court hears appeals from the Magistrates’ Court and from the Small Claims Jurisdiction. Above it sits the Court of Appeal for Gibraltar, which is not resident in Gibraltar, normally holds two sessions each year and draws its Justices mainly from the English Court of Appeal. The highest court of appeal is the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
All procedural details, thresholds and time limits on this page are taken from official Gibraltar sources — the Government of Gibraltar justice system pages and the Gibraltar statute book — as published at the date of writing.
Common situations
Where a theft allegation leaves you
Most people who contact us are dealing with one of these moments, and none of them is a reason to wait.
You have been arrested or told you are under investigation
Nobody has explained what happens next, and you are unsure what you are allowed to say or sign. In Gibraltar the process has its own steps, and early decisions can matter much later.
You have been charged or sent to the Supreme Court
Your case is now moving through the Gibraltar courts and you need someone who knows how criminal business is listed and heard here, rather than how it works in England.
You are worried about the cost of representation
Gibraltar legal aid is means-tested and professional fees here are not set by any public tariff, so it helps to understand both routes before you commit to anything.
Why use the matching service
What you get when you write to us
One short description of your situation is enough for us to start.
Practitioners admitted in Gibraltar
Every practitioner we suggest is admitted to practise in Gibraltar and works with the local courts, so you are not paying anyone to learn this jurisdiction at your expense.
One practitioner, advice and advocacy
Because solicitors of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar may also act as barristers, we can match you with a practice that both advises and appears, or with a specialist barrister where that suits the case better.
Clear answers on legal aid and fees
We set out how the means test for criminal legal aid works and remind you that fees are agreed directly with your practitioner, so you can ask informed questions at the first meeting.
Free, and with no obligation
Using the service costs you nothing. You describe the situation once, we identify suitable practitioners, and you decide in your own time whether to instruct anyone.
Cross-border matters
Where else we match clients
Theft and dishonesty allegations are handled differently in every jurisdiction. If your matter touches another European country — because of where you live, where the property was, or where a company is registered — say so when you contact us, and we will look for the right fit.
Questions
Theft cases in Gibraltar: common questions
How do I find a theft lawyer in Gibraltar?
Send us a short description of the situation through the form on this page. We review it and match you with a solicitor or barrister of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar who deals with theft allegations, usually within 24 to 48 hours. You then speak to them directly and decide whether to instruct them.
Which courts deal with theft cases in Gibraltar?
Criminal matters are dealt with at first instance by the Magistrates’ Court, where a Stipendiary Magistrate or a bench of lay magistrates sits. The Supreme Court of Gibraltar exercises a criminal jurisdiction comparable to that of the English Crown Court; criminal trials there are generally heard by jury, with lay assessors available instead of a jury in complex financial trials.
Can the same Gibraltar practitioner advise me and represent me in court?
Often, yes. Under section 29(2) of the Supreme Court Act, a person admitted and enrolled as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Gibraltar is at liberty to act also as a barrister. Many local practices therefore combine both roles, although specialist barristers are still commonly instructed for advocacy in the higher courts.
Is legal aid available for criminal cases in Gibraltar?
Part I of the Legal Aid and Assistance Act (Act 1960-23) covers criminal legal aid for persons committed for trial, for appellants and for proceedings before the magistrates’ court. It is means-tested and subject to a merits test: assistance is available where income does not exceed £5,000 a year, and an applicant with capital above £350 must be refused unless it appears that they cannot afford to proceed.
How much will a Gibraltar lawyer cost?
Professional fees for barristers and solicitors in private practice in Gibraltar are not fixed by statute or by any public tariff; they are agreed between you and your practitioner. Court fees are charged separately and are generally borne by the party who incurs them, so ask for a fee structure in writing before you instruct anyone.
Where do appeals go in Gibraltar?
The Supreme Court of Gibraltar hears appeals from the Magistrates’ Court and from the Small Claims Jurisdiction. The next court is the Court of Appeal for Gibraltar, whose Justices are drawn mainly from the English Court of Appeal and which normally holds two sessions a year. The highest court of appeal is the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London.
Next step
Tell us what has happened
Describe your situation in a few lines — the stage you are at, the court or authority involved, and the date of any hearing. We will look for a Gibraltar practitioner who handles theft matters and send you their details, free of charge and without obligation.