If any client on your agency request has a fail-to-appear (FTA) charge, Acquit automatically flags it with a red warning banner. This is important because FTA matters usually need to be handled by you personally: a covering lawyer may not be able to assist.
The system detects charges containing “fail to appear”, “FTA”, “bench warrant”, or references to s.142 of the Magistrates Courts Act.
When an FTA charge is detected:
- You receive a notification prompting you to include specific instructions for the covering lawyer.
- The warning banner appears on the request detail, in the chat embed, and in the covering lawyer’s pre-court reminder.
- The Smart Brief (if enabled) highlights the FTA as a priority alert.
Tip: If you do need to delegate an FTA matter, make sure your instructions clearly explain why the charge shouldn’t be dealt with at the mention and what the covering lawyer should say.