Public Access
Individuals and businesses can now come directly to an authorised barrister without having to involve anyone else (e.g. a solicitor). This way of working is often referred to as “Public or Direct Access.”
At 9 Stone Buildings we have a number of specialist Barristers who are willing to assist you on this basis and undertake the following work:
• Draft documents.
• Advise on legal issues.
• Represent you in court proceedings, public inquiries and other tribunals.
• Negotiate on your behalf and represent you in mediation and arbitrations.
In some circumstances, there may still be limitations on the type of work an authorised public access barrister can undertake. On these occasions, you may be advised to instruct a solicitor to better assist you.
Information regarding the public access scheme can be found in the Bar Standard Board’s Guidance for Lay Clients, which is available from their website here.
When instructing a Barrister directly, we will provide a client care engagement letter. This letter sets out the terms by which the Barrister can act for you on this basis and forms a contract between you and the Barrister.
It is also necessary for us to hold some “know your client” identification on file. Details regarding how we use this information can be found in our privacy policy here.
Fees
Public access Barristers at 9 Stone Buildings undertake work on an agreed fee basis, either by way of a fixed hourly rate or fixed fee.
As an example, the current hourly rates for public access Barristers at 9 Stone Buildings ranges from £250 – £500 per hour plus VAT (Value Added Tax), depending on the Barrister required. We appreciate that not all cases are the same, so please do contact one of the Clerks to discuss your individual requirements. The Clerks will be happy to discuss any matters regarding estimated or incurred fees for legal services provided by Barristers at 9 Stone Buildings.
To avoid the risk of unexpected cost fluctuations, please speak to a Clerks or the Barrister instructed, if the nature of the matter changes.
Barristers at 9 Stone Buildings are registered for VAT, which will be added where applicable. Expenses may also be incurred by Barristers to cover reasonable out of pocket costs during their instruction.
Timescales:
There are a number of factors which may influence the timescales of work in a case, such as Barrister availability, the type of legal matter and its complexity, as well as the approach taken by the other side, court actions, court availability and waiting times.
Please contact the Clerk to discuss your individual requirements further on 020 7404 5055 or email: clerks@9stonebuildings.com.