Historically, it was necessary to instruct a Solicitor before you could gain access to a Barrister. Direct access is a scheme which qualifies barristers to take instructions directly from a client, enabling you to instruct a barrister without first going through a solicitor.
As a client who would benefit from our expert legal advice or representation in court service, in appropriate cases, this could offer advantages to you.
A client seeking a direct access relationship may be a member of the public, or other professionals who wish to include our legal expertise within the service that they provide to their clients. It is quite common for our services to be engaged by accountants or regulatory consultants who’s clients require legal advice.
Barristers must undertake training and qualify to be able to offer a direct access service. At Lincoln House Chambers roughly a third of the barristers have done so. The clerks will be able to assist you identifying qualified members.
It is important that we identify if a case is appropriate for direct access from the outset. There are certain areas of law or types of case that we are not able to accept under direct access. It must be in the clients best interest and we must be satisfied that the full requirements of the case can be met under direct access before accepting instructions.
If you come to us directly and yours is a case that requires a solicitor we will be able to both advise you as to the reasons why, but most importantly, assist you in identifying the best solicitor for your case and establishing contact with that solicitor. We have expert knowledge of which solicitors have the specialist experience that would be required as well as which have the necessary capacity, will match your geographical requirements, charge fees in line with your budget expectations and will work best with the specialist barrister that we will recommend to you.
You have everything to gain by coming to us first.
If your case is appropriate for direct access we will:
- Advise as to suitable Direct Access qualified barristers for the case
- Advise you on the merits of your case and how to take the case forward
- Work with you in the completion of necessary tasks to allow for the case to be properly prepared
- Be completely transparent on costs from the outset of the instruction
- Agreed fixed fees for each work item or stage of the case
- Charge our fees in stages according to when the work is being done
- Provide a written contract and fully itemised bills and receipts
The BSB offers very helpful information and guidance in relation to direct access. Please click here to be taken to the relevant section of the BSB website.