Most judges have been solicitors in their time. They would like to encourage people to use solicitors to plead their case . So if you have a solicitor representing you in court the judge takes a more lenient view of the case and the fine, if imposed, will be reduced if a solicitor had been used. Any truth in this?
I haven't found this to be the case in RTA's [Road Traffic Act offences], but proper legal representation is useful in any Court and usually only harms your wallet.
Its far more important that you go to court yourself, assess how the judge is feeling that day and the kind of sentences he is handing down.
I was once represented on a speeding ticket by a Wicklow Solicitor's office whose practice was "twinned" with one in Dublin.
On the day my solicitor was unavoidably detained.
The solicitor not turning up meant his "second" from the Dublin office asked for an adjournment as she wasn't properly briefed - this apparently was normal enough practice.
However by then I had been in Court for an hour listening to the RTA cases and the Judge was in a good mood, fines instead of endorsement and the like
The Garda was there, I was there and here was my solicitors "second" asking for an adjournment and annoying the judge.
The offence meant I could have gotten an endorsement on a "bad" day.
So after the solicitor had asked for an adjournment I stopped the Garda, who was leaving the Court, explained who I was and asked him to stay.
He agreed, and then I went up to the "second" solicitor and instructed her to proceed with the case, stating my reasons, and she agreed to accept my instruction.
It was a clear cut case, with no pleading on my part, and a judge in a good mood was the most important criterion for minimising the penalty.
The case was brought up again, the judge seemed happy to see I hadn't wasted Garda time or the Court's time and I received an IR£60 fine [it was a while ago
] and no endorsement on my licence.
I think the OP's storey is believable enough for her to be put on the stand to explain the position, but not to deny liability, just to state the case well and simply, apologise for her actions and show evidence of her contrition by producing all the documents.
Then all you can do is hope for a sympathetic hearing from the judge.
Be prepared for some serious points on the license though.
FWIW
ONQ