Introduction
Welcome to our website, which is designed to facilitate your direct access to barristers in the United Kingdom. These terms and conditions govern your use of the Access 2 Barristers Direct platform and set out the legal framework under which we operate.
Company Details
Access 2 Barristers Direct is a trading name of Meridian Legal Services Limited, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 09311368. Our registered office is located at Suite 106 Denning House C/O Know Tax, George Street, Wolverhampton, England, WV2 4DP.
Regulatory Status
Furthermore, Meridian Legal Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We adhere to the requisite professional standards and ethical guidelines applicable to our specific regulatory permissions, while the barristers we market are individually regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
Our Role
Meridian acts solely as a marketing and administrative intermediary to connect you with suitably qualified barristers. We do not provide legal advice ourselves, nor do we employ the barristers who appear on this website.
Barrister Relationship
The barristers we market are independent, self-employed practitioners who are solely responsible for the legal advice and representation they provide. They are required to maintain their own professional indemnity insurance and to comply with the Bar Standards Board Handbook.
Legal Contract
Consequently, any contract for the provision of legal services is formed directly between you and the barrister, typically via a formal Client Care Letter. Meridian Legal Services Limited is not a party to that contract and assumes no liability for the advice or services rendered by the barrister.
Client Money
It is important to note that barristers are generally prohibited from holding client money, and Meridian Legal Services Limited does not hold client funds for legal fees. Fees are payable either directly to the barrister or through a secure third-party payment processor, such as BARCO, which ensures compliance with BSB regulations.
Cancellation Rights
Under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013, you have the right to cancel your instruction within 14 days without giving any reason. This cooling-off period applies from the day you enter into a contract with us or the barrister for the provision of services.
Work Commencement
Should you wish for the barrister to commence work immediately within this 14-day cancellation period, you must make an express request to do so in writing. You must acknowledge that you will lose your right to cancel once the service has been fully performed, or be liable for costs incurred up to the point of cancellation.
Transparency
You are able to check the authorisation of any barrister we market by visiting the Bar Standards Board’s Barristers’ Register on their website. We also encourage you to read the Bar Standards Board’s ‘Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients’ to fully understand how the direct access scheme operates.
Complaints
Distinction is made between complaints regarding our administrative service and complaints regarding the legal service provided. Complaints about our website or administrative handling should be directed to Meridian Legal Services Limited, whereas complaints about legal advice must be directed to the barrister in the first instance and subsequently to the Legal Ombudsman.
Limitation of Liability
However, we explicitly exclude all liability for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on the content of this website or the legal services provided by any barrister. Nothing in these terms excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence or for fraud.
Professional Indemnity
We maintain comprehensive professional indemnity insurance to cover our own administrative services. Details of this insurance, including the insurer and the territorial coverage of the policy, are available upon request at our registered office.
Accessibility
Furthermore, we are committed to making our website accessible and usable for as many people as possible, regardless of ability or disability. Our aim is to comply with all applicable standards and guidelines to ensure equal access to legal information.
Governing Law
English law governs these terms and conditions, and you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Contact
Please direct any questions, comments, or requests regarding these terms to us via the contact details provided on our website.