Public Access / Direct Access
At London View Chambers, we offer Public Access, also known as Direct Access. This means you can instruct one of our barristers directly without first instructing a solicitor. For many individuals, businesses, and organisations, this provides a more efficient and cost effective route to specialist legal advice and representation.
What Is Public Access?
Public Access is a scheme approved by the Bar Standards Board that allows barristers to accept instructions directly from members of the public and from professional clients. It removes the intermediary step of instructing a solicitor, placing you in direct contact with the barrister who will handle your case. All work undertaken under the Public Access scheme is subject to the same professional standards, duties, and regulatory obligations as work instructed through a solicitor.
Who Can Instruct Under Public Access?
You may instruct us under the Public Access scheme if you are a member of the public, a business or corporate entity, a charity or other organisation, or a professional client instructing counsel directly. Not every matter is suitable for Public Access, and we are required by the Bar Standards Board to consider whether direct instruction is in your best interests. If your case involves complex litigation requiring ongoing case management, or if you would benefit from the support of a solicitor, we will advise you of that openly. We will not accept instructions where direct access would not serve your interests.
What a Public Access Barrister Can Do for You
When you instruct us directly, we can provide clear, written advice on the merits of your case; draft legal documents including grounds of appeal, skeleton arguments, witness statements, and applications; represent you at hearings before tribunals, the County Court, the High Court, and appellate courts; advise on strategy, evidence, and procedural steps; and assist in engaging and instructing experts where required.
There are important limitations you should be aware of. A barrister acting under Public Access is not automatically authorised to conduct litigation. Unless the barrister holds a separate qualification to do so, you will remain a litigant in person for the purposes of court proceedings. This means that you, not your barrister, will be responsible for issuing proceedings, filing documents with the court, and receiving court correspondence. Additionally, we cannot accept instructions funded by Legal Aid under the Public Access scheme. If you are eligible for Legal Aid, you will need to instruct a solicitor to access that funding. However, if you already have a solicitor and Legal Aid funding, we can still be instructed by your solicitor to provide specialist advice or advocacy.
How the Process Works
The process is designed to be straightforward. First, contact our clerking team by telephone or email with a brief outline of your matter. We will assess whether your case is suitable for Public Access and may ask you to complete a short questionnaire or provide initial documents so we can properly evaluate it. Once we have the necessary information, we will provide you with a clear fixed fee for the agreed scope of work. All fees are agreed in advance, so you will know exactly what you are paying for.
When you accept the quote, we will send you a client care letter setting out the terms of your instruction, the scope of work, and the agreed fees. This forms the contract between you and the barrister. Your barrister will then begin work on your matter, keeping you informed at every stage.
Fees and Costs
We operate on a fixed fee basis wherever possible. This provides certainty and ensures you are not exposed to unexpected costs. Fees vary according to the seniority of the barrister instructed, the complexity of the case, the nature and volume of work required, and the urgency of the matter. All fees quoted are exclusive of VAT, which will be added at the prevailing rate. Where disbursements such as court fees or expert reports are required, these will be discussed with you in advance and are payable separately. For detailed information on our fee structure, please refer to our Fees page.
Benefits of Instructing Directly
Instructing a barrister directly gives you direct communication with the barrister handling your case, without a solicitor acting as an intermediary. Our costs are transparent, with fixed fees agreed in advance so there are no surprises. By removing the solicitor layer, you pay for the legal expertise you need, nothing more. You also retain greater control over your case and the decisions that affect it.
Is Public Access Right for You?
We are obliged to consider, before accepting instructions, whether your matter is suitable for Public Access. We will assess whether the work is within the barrister’s expertise, whether you are able to provide instructions directly without the assistance of a solicitor, whether your case involves complex litigation that would benefit from the involvement of a solicitor, and whether you have the capacity to manage the procedural requirements of your case. If we conclude that direct instruction is not in your best interests, we will explain why and, where appropriate, recommend that you instruct a solicitor.
Complaints and Regulation
London View Chambers is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. If you have a concern about our services, please refer to our Complaints Policy, which sets out how we will handle your complaint. If you remain dissatisfied after our internal process has been exhausted, you have the right to refer your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman. The Legal Ombudsman deals with complaints about the service provided by barristers and can be contacted at www.legalombudsman.org.uk or by telephone on 0300 555 0333. Time limits apply: complaints must usually be brought within six years of the act or omission complained of, or within three years of the date you should reasonably have known about it, and no later than six months from the conclusion of our internal complaints process.
Contact Our Clerks
For a fee estimate or to discuss whether Public Access is suitable for your matter, please contact our clerking team by email at clerks@londonviewchambers.co.uk or by telephone on 0044 20 7183 4797. Our clerks are experienced in handling Public Access enquiries and will be happy to assist you.