Direct Access

We welcome instructions from accountants, surveyors and the many other professions and bodies entitled to instruct the Bar under the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Scheme.

Many of our barristers are also able to provide their services direct to a company, an association or an individual under the direct public access scheme. Click here to view the Bar Standards Board Public Access guidance for the public.

We understand that those instructing us on a direct public access basis may need particular assistance and we will do all we can to make the process easy to understand. Barristers can advise, draft documents and represent you in court, tribunals or mediations. Barristers can also negotiate on your behalf and can attend without prejudice or similar meetings. Barristers are not able to offer a service of general management for the clients’ legal affairs, or the administration of a case, or to handle client money. If you want a legal professional to provide a service of that range, you should instruct a solicitor. None of our barristers are currently authorised to conduct litigation and so if your case leads to litigation you must either perform the litigator functions (including issuing proceedings, adherence to some time limits, disclosure of documents and other obligations connected to the conduct of litigation) yourself as a litigant in person, or instruct a solicitor.

When undertaking work directly for lay clients we will quote fees in advance. Depending on the nature of the task, the fee will be either a fixed fee for specified work, or an hourly rate. We think that clients will find the overall cost of using our barristers’ direct very competitive, particularly as any unnecessary duplication of fees is eliminated.

In addition to professional fees we charge the costs in relation to all reasonable disbursements incurred on a matter. These disbursed costs could include travelling expenses, accommodation, couriers, photocopying, printing and other incidental expenses. VAT is added where applicable.