Nicola Bruce, Senior Associate

Nicola started her career with Olliers over 20 years ago, during which she qualified as a solicitor in 2003 specialising in police interview representation and Magistrates’ Court Advocacy. Nicola left the firm to pursue a career with the Crown Prosecution Service as a Senior Crown Prosecutor later being promoted to a Divisional Crown Prosecutor (temporary).

Nicola was a hate crime lead dealing with race/religion/homophobic/transphobic /disability hate crime. She was also a domestic violence lead and was specially trained to deal with rape and serious sexual assault (RASSO) cases.

Nicola was a lead within the Youth Court and a Magistrates’ Court Advocate. She covered many of the most serious cases including murder, death by dangerous driving, multiple handed covert drugs operations, fraud, rape, sexual offences and indecent image cases.

Nicola was responsible for providing pre-charge advice to the police for many years from its inception.

Nicola re-joined Olliers as a Senior Associate and brings with her a wealth of knowledge, experience and the advantage of having worked as both a defence and prosecuting lawyer.

Nicola’s extensive experience includes case review of the most serious allegations such as murder, death by dangerous driving, fraud and multi-handed cases. She also has areas of specialism including Rape & Serious Sexual Assault (including indecent images), Hate Crime, Domestic Violence and more recently Appeals & Miscarriages of Justice.

At Olliers Nicola will be specialising in representing clients at the pre-charge investigative stage particularly in relation to allegations of a sexual nature, domestic allegations and cases involving indecent images.

Recent Cases

• 2023 – No further action – DV Rape, controlling coercive behaviour and assault
• 2023 – No further action – DV assault, multiple assaults amounting to section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent, strangulation