I am considered a passionate advocate with a manner that appeals to Judges, and to my lay clients. I offer a dedicated and approachable manner that enables my clients to feel at ease and to have their concerns listened to.

Points to consider before deciding whether Direct Access is right for you.

Before considering whether you wish to instruct a barrister under the Direct Access scheme it is advisable to read the Bar Standards Board guidance to Lay clients.

https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/finding-and-using-a-barrister/how-to-instruct-a-barrister/public-access-guidance-for-lay-clients.html

Prior to cases reaching Court, much time is spent on case preparation. This is usually work undertaken by a Solicitor. Under Direct Access, the Barrister may take on some of this additional work (if authorised to do so). However, on a Direct Access case, the client is expected to carry out most if not all of this administrative and support work. This has the effect of substantially lessening the overall cost of the legal work being done, but it does add considerably to the responsibility and time commitment of you as the client to handling your case.

This additional work would usually include assisting with research on evidence and making enquiries to gather evidence, filing of papers in court, photocopying and distribution of bundles of documents, and a range of similar work.

Initial meeting

If you are an individual or professional who considers that you are able to undertake much of the administrative work normally undertaken by a Solicitor, but you nonetheless wish to be advised or represented at Court, then I am able to undertake the advice and/or advocacy for you. I will hold an initial meeting with you to assess the nature of the case, whether the case is one that can easily be prepared without the assistance of a Solicitor, and whether I would be able to work with you.

The cost of the initial 45 minute meeting will be £75 in total. I am not VAT registered. It is important that you send/ email copies of identification and evidence of residence (e.g utility bills, council tax) and bring original identification documents with you to the meeting. 

You must bring all your case papers, those you have, or have prepared, and those from the other side. You must also bring any correspondence/ letters received from the court, in particular court orders and hearing dates, or emails. 

Prior to the meeting 

You must separate court orders and hearing dates and if you do not have a court bundle then try to put your own papers in date order. This will ensure that I am able to get to the heart of the matter quickly and ensure that time is spent effectively and efficiently at the meeting. You will need to read or refresh your memory of the guidance to lay clients issued by the bar standards board.

Only once I have seen all the papers and taken a view on the complexity will I be able to provide a quote for the work I need to undertake.

After the meeting

After I have assessed the case, I may consider that due to complexity it is not in your interests, or not in the interests of justice, to proceed under the Direct Access Scheme.

As your case progresses, your own commitments may be such that you may need assistance with preparatory work. In those circumstances, despite having commenced under the Direct Access Scheme, you would still be able to instruct a Solicitor on your behalf and continue to use the services of me or of another Barrister for attendance at court. 

For further guidance please click below which takes you to the guidance on the Bar Standard's Board's website. 

https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/finding-and-using-a-barrister/how-to-instruct-a-barrister/public-access-guidance-for-lay-clients.html

Public Access Scheme Guidance for Lay Clients.                                                             

For a helpful website providing independent and factual information concerning legal issues and lawyers click on the link below;

https://www.legalchoices.org.uk/

If you are considering instructing me under the Direct access scheme and wish to obtain a quote then in the first instance it would be helpful if you could briefly set out the nature of your case and the date of any court hearing in an email.

Direct Access - Financial Disputes in Divorce

Undergoing a divorce can be a very stressful process. You may find that you are paying for representation and legal services for court proceedings involving child arrangements, and at the same time have to fund court hearings dealing with the financial aspects of a divorce. You may consider that on balance you wish to use a solicitor for one case, e.g. the child arrangements but deal with the court paperwork for the divorce yourself, and use the assistance of a barrister for court hearings under the Direct Access scheme. You may consider that you could prepare for both hearings and use a barrister to represent you at all of your hearings. Either way, the overall cost when undertaking preparatory work yourself, and using a barrister at court should be more cost effective. 

I can advise you if you and your former partner cannot agree on financial matters during, or after, a divorce. For example, you may not be able to agree on how your home or other assets should be divided, whether the Former Matrimonial Home should be sold or kept by one party, whether maintenance is payable or how pensions should be divided. 

Prior to considering whether to go to court, and even during the court process alternative dispute resolution, e.g. Mediation or Financial Arbitration, may be a route worth considering.

If agreement can not be reached, you can apply to the family court for a financial order. You may need to attend a number of court hearings.

All information below in the table is correct as of June 2021, but fee's are estimates only. For a quotation, please contact 07791 855 303 (or e-mail grv@canonburychambers.co.uk)