Some of our barristers are registered to provide legal services to members of the public through the Public Access scheme. This can be an efficient and cost-effective way to obtain advice on the merits of a potential dispute. Our barristers will advise if they feel the case requires the support of a solicitor as well.
We accept Public Access instructions across all our areas of expertise. Our clerks are familiar with the procedure for setting up agreements directly between the barrister and the client, and are happy to answer enquiries over the telephone or by email.
They can advise on the suitability and availability of members for a particular case, and give a transparent quote for the likely costs involved. We would advise you though that there are some cases which are not suitable for direct access and you may also need to instruct a solicitor.
Our approach to pricing is open, flexible and progressive. It is our usual practice to provide fee quotations to both professional and lay clients before work is undertaken. These may be on the basis of hourly rates, fixed fees or alternative arrangements, tailored to the individual clients’ requirements. We have extensive experience working with litigation funders and insurers. Depending on the nature of the case, our barristers may be willing to accept instructions under a full or partial Conditional Fee Agreement or Damages Based Agreement. More information about our terms of work is available here.
Timescales for advice may vary depending on factors such as barristers’ availability, the availability of the client or third parties, the complexity of the case, the amount of papers needing to be reviewed, the need for additional papers or documents, the approach taken by other parties in the case, third parties intervening in the case and court waiting times. Our clerks are able to advise you on the approximate timescale when they receive your instructions, but it may be affected by factors outside of our control.
For details of our fee structures for Inheritance Act advice, please click here.
To read more about the Public Access scheme, visit the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients page.