We have a large team of direct access barristers in family law who are trained and experienced in Public Direct Access relating to both children and financial cases. In the right case, direct access to a barrister – without first instructing a solicitor – can be quicker and better value for clients.
What is Direct Access?
Direct access barristers in family law enables you to work directly with a barrister rather than going to a solicitor first, and having the solicitor liaise with the barrister on your behalf.
At 4PB we are family law specialists. Family law is all we do. A family law barrister working directly with you will be able to give you advice, represent you in court and negotiate on your behalf, and assist you with drafting documents and correspondence. You remain technically a litigant in person and are responsible for the day-to-day progress of your legal case.
We have a wide range of direct access barristers in family law qualified to work directly with the public, from bright and well-trained recently-qualified juniors to highly-renowned senior KCs with decades of court experience, and all levels in between.
You might instruct a direct access barrister in family law to:
- Give you written advice about your case, after reading the documents
- Give you advice in conference – that is, face-to-face, on the phone or by Skype, after reading the documents; or
- Represent you either in court at a hearing, at a settlement conference or at a mediation.
Working directly with a barrister at court tends to be appropriate where you are able to handle the administrative side of things yourself. Direct access barrister in family law case, is a good way of concentrating your financial resources for a court hearing that you might otherwise be conducting yourself, giving you a better chance of getting the outcome you want.
On this page you’ll find answers to some frequently asked questions about using a direct access barrister in family law, and how the process works here at 4PB.
Contact
Direct Access Barristers are regulated by the Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board and have strict professional rules by which they abide, giving you the benefit of consumer protection and the backing of a professional conduct regime built up over centuries. Only barristers who have achieved a specialist direct access qualification are allowed to work directly with clients. You can find a list of 4PB’s direct access qualified barristers below. If you’d like more information about how a direct access barrister in family law could work with you directly, you can look at the public direct access page on the Bar Council’s website or the guidance notes prepared by Bar Standards Board, by clicking the links.
If you would like to speak to someone about our direct access barristers in family law, please call our direct access practice managers, Denise Fallon and Glenn Bennett, on 020 7427 5200. The DA practice managers will be able to discuss whether your case is suitable for public access and will be able to provide you with information on what specifically is required in order to prepare a meaningful estimate, after which a quote for the work will be provided within 14 days.
Please note the provision of a quote is not an acceptance of instructions. An acceptance of instruction is fixed upon the signing of a public access agreement. Where we provide a fixed price for a piece of work we will seek not to exceed the amount we have quoted without prior client authority.
On the acceptance of instructions counsel will review the case to assess the amount of papers to be reviewed, the complexity of the case, the need for additional information or documents and the approach being taken by the other side. The return date for completed work will then be subject to the upcoming availability of counsel, the client(s), relevant third parties and where appropriate the next suitable date for any court hearings. Updates will be provided regarding expected timescales, including changes in circumstances that are outside of Chambers control.
Frequently asked questions
– What’s the difference between a solicitor and a barrister?
– How can a direct access barrister help me?
– How does public and direct access work at 4PB?
– What is 4PB like? (Tour of chambers)
– What’s the court process for children cases?
– What’s the court process on money cases?
– What are the costs of instructing a direct access barrister at 4PB?
– How do I get the best out of my 4PB direct access barrister?
– How do I put my papers in order for my direct access barrister?
– What do I do to get the ball rolling?
– What are your standard terms of business for direct access?
