Find the Right Direct Access Barrister for Your Case.
Get the specialist legal expertise your case needs without automatically placing a solicitor between you and Counsel.
We help individuals and businesses understand whether Direct Access is the right route, identify what preparation may be needed and find suitable specialist Public Access barristers for advice, drafting or representation.
Is a Barrister the Right Route for Your Case?
A barrister may be exactly what you need. But first it helps to establish what legal input is required and whether the case is ready for Counsel.
What Does Your Case Actually Need?
Answer three short questions. This does not assess the legal merits of your case; it helps identify the most sensible practical next step.
60-Second Route Finder
Step 1 of 3What do you principally need help with?
How prepared are your documents and evidence?
Is there an upcoming hearing or important deadline?
Request a confidential case review.
Tell us about the case and we can consider the practical next step.
Request a Confidential Case Review Explore Barrister-Ready Case Preparation →What Is a Direct Access Barrister?
Direct Access, also commonly called Public Access, allows individuals and businesses to instruct appropriately authorised barristers directly rather than automatically going through a solicitor.
A Public Access barrister may provide specialist legal advice, draft legal documents and represent clients at many court and tribunal hearings, depending on the barrister, the matter and the agreed scope of the instruction.
Not every barrister undertakes Public Access work, and not every case is best managed through Direct Access. The important question is whether the instruction is suitable and whether the client is able to manage the practical work that falls outside Counsel's agreed role.
This is why we start with the case rather than simply searching for the first available barrister.
Specialist Barrister Expertise Without Automatically Instructing a Solicitor First.
Direct Access can create a shorter route to specialist Counsel. But a shorter route still needs the right barrister, the right instruction and a case that is properly prepared.
Read the Full Direct Access Guide →Direct Access Does Not Mean Doing Everything Alone.
Your barrister's specialist legal role and the practical preparation surrounding the case are different things. Understanding that distinction is one of the keys to using Direct Access effectively.
Specialist Legal Expertise
- Specialist legal advice
- Legal strategy
- Written opinions
- Legal drafting where instructed
- Advocacy and representation
- Specialist analysis of the legal issues
Practical Preparation
- Evidence organised
- Key documents identified
- Chronology prepared
- Witness material structured
- Court or hearing bundles prepared
- Case papers arranged for Counsel
Your Case. Barrister-Ready. Specialist Counsel.
The right route depends on what your case needs today. Sometimes that means Counsel immediately. Sometimes the case should be organised before valuable barrister time is used.
Your Case
We start with the legal problem, the stage of the matter and what outcome or specialist input you are seeking.
Get Barrister-Ready
Where required, documents, evidence and practical case materials can be structured before the instruction reaches Counsel.
Specialist Counsel
Suitable Public Access barristers can then be considered for the specialist advice, drafting or representation required.
A Clear Route From Legal Problem to Counsel.
The process should establish what legal work is needed, whether the case is ready and which specialist barrister may be appropriate before an instruction is agreed.
Tell Us About Your Case
Explain the dispute, current stage and the legal help you believe you require.
Identify the Right Route
We consider the practical route and whether further preparation appears necessary.
Prepare if Required
Case materials can be organised before approaching Counsel where that would improve the instruction.
Identify Suitable Counsel
Barristers can be considered according to expertise, availability, seniority and the work required.
Agree Scope & Fees
The barrister's proposed work and fee are established before the instruction proceeds.
Instruct Counsel
The barrister is instructed for the defined specialist legal work.
Direct Access Can Be Highly Effective — But It Is Not Automatically Right for Every Case.
Some matters are ready to go directly to Counsel. Others require substantial practical preparation or a different form of legal support before a barrister can be used effectively.
Direct Access May Work Well Where:
- You need specialist legal advice
- You require representation at a hearing
- You want an opinion on a defined legal issue
- The main documents are already organised
- The work required from Counsel can be defined
Preparation or Another Route May Be Needed Where:
- The evidence is extensive or disorganised
- There are multiple parties or complex practical issues
- The factual history is difficult to follow
- Significant case management remains outstanding
- You are unsure what work should be placed before Counsel
Direct Access Barristers Across a Wide Range of Legal Matters.
The appropriate barrister depends on the specific legal issue and work required. Explore some of the areas in which clients commonly seek Direct Access advice or representation.
How Much Does It Cost to Instruct a Barrister Directly?
There is no single standard Direct Access barrister fee. The cost depends on the work required, the complexity of the matter and the barrister being instructed.
A clearly defined instruction and properly organised case materials can also make it easier to understand exactly what Counsel is being asked to do.
Know the Scope Before You Instruct.
Understand what the barrister is being asked to do and the proposed fee before proceeding with the instruction.
Read the Direct Access Costs GuideQuestions to Answer Before You Instruct a Barrister Directly.
These are some of the most important issues to understand before deciding whether Public Access is the right route for your case.
What Is Direct Access?
Public Access allows appropriately authorised barristers to accept instructions directly from members of the public without a solicitor first being instructed.
Read the Full Guide → The ProcessHow Does Direct Access Work?
The route normally involves defining the legal work required, considering suitability, identifying Counsel and agreeing the scope and fees.
See How It Works → FeesHow Much Does a Direct Access Barrister Cost?
Fees vary according to the work required, barrister seniority, complexity, preparation, hearing length and the volume of material involved.
Read the Costs Guide → SuitabilityIs My Case Suitable for Direct Access?
Many matters can be handled effectively through Public Access, while others require more extensive preparation or case management.
Check Suitability → Practical RisksWhat Are the Risks of Going Direct Alone?
Direct Access can work extremely well, but clients need to understand which practical tasks remain outside Counsel's agreed role.
Understand the Risks → Compare the RoutesPublic Access vs Using a Solicitor
The two routes involve different responsibilities, cost structures and levels of case management. The right choice depends on what your case needs.
Compare the Two Routes →Is Your Case Actually Barrister-Ready?
If your evidence is scattered across emails, photographs, contracts, messages and court papers, the better first step may be to organise the case before putting it before specialist Counsel.
Gary W Smith
Legal Director | Chief Executive
25+ years' litigation experience. Founder of Access 2 Barristers Direct.
The Right Barrister Starts With Understanding the Case.
Access 2 Barristers Direct helps individuals and businesses access specialist Counsel while recognising that successful Direct Access also depends on clear instructions, appropriate preparation and an honest assessment of what the case actually needs.
Common Questions About Instructing a Barrister Directly.
Tell Us About Your Case.
You do not need to know which barrister you need or even whether Direct Access is definitely the right route. Tell us about the legal issue, the current stage of the matter and what you are trying to achieve.
Direct Access Enquiry
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Confidential enquiry • No obligation
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Call 0800 955 0956Find the Right Barrister. Take the Right Route.
Tell us about your case. We can help establish whether you need a barrister, what practical preparation may be required and the most appropriate next step.
Find the Right Route for My Case