Nicola Powell was called to the Bar in 1996 by Lincoln’s Inn after studying law at Aberystwyth University. Nicola is a senior female junior barrister practising exclusively in crime.
She has experience in all aspects of criminal law with a particular interest in prosecuting and defending cases involving serious violence and those of a serious sexual nature including rape, abuse of children and vulnerable individuals and cases where the allegations are of a historic nature.
She is a category 4 approved Prosecutor and she is also a specialist Rape Prosecutor. She is on the Crown Prosecution Services approved list of Counsel who are instructed to conduct cases of Rape and serious sexual offences and she is also qualified to provide early pre-charge advice to the police and to conduct pre-trial conferences with vulnerable witnesses. To that end, she has experience in dealing with all kinds of witnesses - young, old, and those with a disability, those who require special measures and those who for one reason or another require the services of interpreters and intermediaries.
The same can be said of Nicola when she defends. She was led in her first murder case when she was a trainee barrister in her second sixth months pupillage and she has continued to go on defending in cases involving serious violence, firearms, drugs, rape and all forms of sexual abuse.
Her no-nonsense approach has gained her respect with her clients and solicitors alike. She is known to be approachable and yet firm.
Nicola has been previously described as an effective and persuasive advocate with a commanding presence in the court room.
When not in court Nicola’s passions is for her young family, down time in her garden and looking after the many animals she has on her small holding.