Using a barrister direct can help you save money because you are not also paying fees to a solicitor, you can go to a barrister of your choice, and correspondence and communications may be faster because you are dealing with the barrister directly.

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A guide to the public access scheme can be found here on the Bar Standards Board Website. Not all cases will be suitable, but the site sets out details of the sort of work a barrister is permitted to conduct without a solicitor being involved.

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In outline, a barrister can:

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• Advise you on the merits of your case and the way in which it is likely to proceed;

• Appear on your behalf to argue your case at court;

• Advise you on the need for expert evidence and on the choice of a suitable expert;

• Correspond and conduct litigation on your behalf; and

• Draft your witness statement, if needed, based on what you tell them. A barrister may also be able to help finalise a witness statement from another person based on the information that person has provided to you.

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A barrister is not allowed to take responsibility for the handling of clients' affairs, or to handle clients' money.

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In setting fees, we will consider the complexity of your case, the urgency of the work and the amount of work involved.

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We provide our hourly rates in accordance with the years of call of the barrister instructed, but this can vary depending on the case and skillset of the instructed barrister.

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• Ten years' call and above - £250 - £350 per hour or on a fixed fee basis

• Below ten years' call - £150 - £250 per hour or on a fixed fee basis

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All fees must be paid before the barrister is permitted to carry out the work.

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Barristers who accept work under the public access scheme are licensed to do so by the Bar Standards Board and operate under the Code of Conduct for Barristers in England and Wales, and under the Public Access Rules.

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Eligibility for Legal Aid

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You may be eligible for public funding (also known as ‘legal aid’). You can check this on the Legal Aid Eligibility Calculator.  A barrister is not allowed to undertake legal aid work under the Public Access scheme, neither are they able to carry out any means testing for you, however, you can find more information about this at www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid.

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Even if you are eligible for legal aid, you may prefer to instruct a barrister directly, on a privately-funded basis. If you decide to proceed on this basis your barrister will fully explain to you the implications of instructing them privately, and the likely costs you will incur. In these circumstances, your barrister will ask you to confirm that you wish to proceed with your case on a privately funded basis and that you fully understand the implications of your decision.

 

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