Senate House Chambers Public Access

Under the Public Access rules, members of the public seeking legal advice in relation to either a specific piece of work or full representation in proceedings can instruct a barrister directly in appropriate cases.

Full details of the scheme are available on the Bar Council’s website - Click Here www.gov.uk/legal-aid

This may include advice, representation or a written opinion on a specific issue. We tailor our service by providing a suitably qualified and experienced barrister to meet your specific needs whilst ensuring that costs are kept to a minimum.

Such is the dramatic impact of government cuts to legal aid that few people will now qualify for funding in most private family law applications. We understand that careful management of the privately funded costs of proceedings is essential for public access clients. The members of our Public Access team are specialists in their areas of law, and the benefit of instructing us directly is that we can provide the support, advice and assistance to guide you through the legal process in a cost effective way. Our specially trained Public Access clerks are responsible for the efficient management of this important part of our business.

Our barristers cannot conduct litigation for you, unless they are specifically trained to do so. Litigation involves issuing applications at court, filing and serving documents such as statements and court bundles. However, our Public Access barristers can provide assistance and guidance in drafting these as documents.

In the majority of cases we charge a fixed fee for each piece of work undertaken, which is payable no later than 7 working days in advance and as outlined in the Terms of Business which will be sent to you when instructions have been confirmed.

The table below sets out an estimate of the range of fixed fees which vary depending upon the complexity of your matter and the seniority of the barrister you would like to instruct.

The fees are not inclusive of VAT, and the rates charged will depend on factors such as the individual barrister’s level of experience and complexity of the issues in the case. These matters will be discussed with you before a fee is confirmed and agreed.

Any additional fees will be set out in the Terms of Business . An example of additional fees may include assistance with drafting some types of documents and completion of court forms. In addition, travel to a court more than a 40 miles radius outside of Senate House Chambers would be charged at an hourly rate for travel plus mileage, all of which would be confirmed in the client care letter issued at the time.

As a rough guide, proceedings under the Children Act 1989 can take six to twelve months to resolve. This does not include possible appeals and there are exceptional cases where matters may take longer to conclude. We are obliged to make you aware that a barrister cannot undertake legal aid work under the Public Access Scheme unless a solicitor has instructed that individual. If you wish to obtain clarification as to whether you are eligible for legal aid before instructing us we would recommend that you consult a solicitor for the purpose of carrying out a legal aid eligibility check.

We would refer you to the Government’s online guidance on legal aid for further information.