Most barristers at Legis Chambers are registered to provide legal advice and representation under the Public Access Scheme, which enables a company, an association or an individual to instruct a barrister directly, without involving solicitors. For further information please see the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access Guidance to Clients.
Instructing a barrister directly can be an efficient and cost-effective way of obtaining legal advice or representation without any unnecessary duplication of fees.
We can cover most types of work, including:
- Litigation
- Legal Advice / Opinions;
- Represent you in court or in a tribunal, or attend without prejudice meetings
Unfortunately, you cannot instruct a barrister directly under legal aid. If you anticipate requiring legal aid you will need to instruct a solicitor who has an appropriate legal aid contract.
Fees and charges
Our practice managers are always available to discuss levels of fees and provide a quotation for legal services on request. Our fees are flexible and transparent, and will be calculated as agreed between our Chambers and the individual in a variety of ways depending on the case.
Our most common pricing models are hourly rates, fixed fees or brief fees and refreshers. We are normally able to agree on a fixed fee for the initial conference at £350 (exclusive of VAT), except for complex cases or initial conferences which will last for an extended period of time, where an increased conference fee will be quoted in advance. For hearings, we can either agree on a fixed fee for hearings which last no more than one day, or a brief fee plus refresher(s) structure for hearings lasting more than one day. For drafting or advisory work, fixed fees can also be agreed.
When assessing the appropriate level of fees, we take into consideration the importance of the case, the complexity, the volume of documentation, the responsibility involved, and the skill and specialised knowledge, as well as the seniority, of the barrister concerned, which will be reflected in a disclosable hourly rate.
For some of the immigrations cases, we are able to provide more confined fee estimates, as can be found here.
When a fee quote is provided, or a fee is agreed it will specify whether VAT is applicable
How do I engage?
Members of Chambers who have been approved by the Bar Council to accept work under the Public Access Scheme can be approached through the practice managers with a request that instructions will be considered.
Once instructions have been received and a fee agreed, you will receive a client care letter with terms of engagement which you must sign and return. It is important that you read and understand these documents as they form a contract between you and the barrister.
Please note that we do not currently accept Public Access instructions in the following areas of practice:
- Employment Tribunal cases
- Advice under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975
- Financial disputes arising out of divorce where you and your former partner have joint assets which are worth less than £300,000
- Winding up petitions
- Licensing applications
- Personal Injury claims
