In order to stand a fair chance, you need someone on whose list of priorities you are first and foremost. If it is not your union's list, then find someone else who will fight for you.

The panel gave me quite a grilling in the absence of my client (often it is better that they do not attend for certain hearings, and send me instead).

I called him was similar to that National Lottery representatives get when they call up jackpot winners - astounded, emotional and overjoyed.

This afternoon, as the panel deliberated on the allegations of dishonesty and insecure sending of confidential data,

I often get asked how long it takes for a referral to be completed. There are a number of stages in the referral process, and the 'halfway' stage is when the Case Examiners consider whether there is a case to answer

This was a client who had contacted me immediately upon referral Following early written representations by me.

A referral for possession of Class A drugs was successfully defended in both the Crown Court (I have colleagues who specialise in criminal court representation) and at the NMC, where the Case Examiners decided that there was no case to answer.

When you get struck off, this means you cannot work as a nurse or midwife, unless you succeed in an appeal or review, for at least 5 years. You’ll have to find some other way of paying your bills.

They came to me at the earliest possible stage, and I was able to advise them on the correct steps to take, with a view to defending themselves throughout the NMC investigation.

This client was another who burst into tears on hearing the good news. It must be so stressful bearing the burden of an investigation and disciplinary proceedings by your regulator.

Being a nurse is a "notifiable profession", which means essentially that the police will tell the NMC that you have been arrested and what happens with your case. This may cause the NMC to initiate a fitness to practice process, depending on the offence for which you've been detained.

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We did better than that and got a finding of fitness to practice not impaired.

It was good to hear it from the horse's mouth, bearing in mind this legal assessor is of many years' seniority.

Although I'm happy to pick up cases the day before a hearing if necessary, some cases really require registrants to engage with the proceedings and with me a little earlier.