In many civil matters, barristers can receive direct instructions (without the need for a solicitor) from businesses and members of the public and provide them with legal advice and representation at courts and tribunals. Consequently, there is a considerable cost saving to be made.
I am a member of the largest independent set of barristers chambers in Central Southern England. Public Access Barrister
I am able to advise you about the strength of your case and how you should progress it. I can do this in writing or by meeting you. I can draft documents for you to use in proceedings such as statements of case. I can appear for you at court or in a mediation. I may be able to negotiate with the other side for you. I can draft non-contentious documents, such as standard contractual terms. I can also write letters for you to sign and send to the other side. I have been able to provide useful advice with only an hour's work on simple matters. Should I take on your case, I will provide you with a time-frame for the work and do my utmost to adhere to that.
I am a member of Chambers at 12 College Place and attend court hearings throughout England. However, I normally charge for travelling time and it could prove uneconomic to instruct me to appear in court a long way away. Of course, for paperwork and advice by telephone or email, it makes little difference where the dispute occurred.
My fees will vary depending on the nature of the work and the amount in issue. I keep my rates to well below those charged by litigation partners in the large firms of solicitors. My clerks will always quote either an hourly rate or fixed sum before taking on a piece of work. If I am asked to advise on a specific problem I will usually be able to give a definite figure in advance. For matters where the amount of time I spend will partly depend on factors beyond my control I may only be able to give an estimate.
Since barristers' overheads are less than solicitors, we have traditionally been able to charge lower hourly rates than comparably experienced solicitors. Often much of the work that would be done by a solicitor, such as photo-copying and collating documents you should be able to do yourself. Some people will prefer to have all the work, however basic, done by a professional in which case they may be better off using a solicitor.
Barristers still work closely with solicitors in those cases which are not suitable for Public Access. They may also recommend a solicitor to you for some stages of a Public Access case, such as issuing and serving claims, instructing experts, handling your money or interviewing witnesses. However, there is much work that barristers can conduct for you before it becomes necessary to instruct a solicitor. Direct Access
The list below is not intended to be complete, but if your situation falls into one of the following categories you should be able to instruct me on a Public Access basis:
- You are involved in a case before a court or tribunal;
- You are engaged in correspondence with the other side and require assistance;
- You require representation at court or tribunal;
- You require legal advice and analysis including prospects of success for your case;
- Your case is concerned with points of law;
- Your case is not contentious and you require advice or drafting of a document;
- You would like to obtain a second opinion;
- You would like some initial drafting carried out prior to commencing proceedings;
- You would like to negotiate with the other party;
- You would like to avoid getting embroiled in litigation;
- You would like to initiate Mediation as a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution;
- You would like to appeal a decision.
Many members of recognised professional bodies (including CIPD) are entitled to instruct me directly.
My practice as a barrister includes: Barrister Direct
- Advocacy and representation in the County Court, High Court and various Tribunals;
- Advocacy and legal submissions on paper;
- Written and oral legal and tactical advice;
- The drafting of documents for court and for use in litigation, such as Particulars of Claim, a Defence, Counterclaims, Letters before Claim, Witness Statements and Notices of Appeal;
- The negotiation of settlements; and
- The drafting of commercial and other agreements for use by businesses and individuals.
