Fees and terms of engagement
Clients find it more cost-effective and indeed convenient to instruct a direct access barrister to work on a fixed fee basis.
Depending on the complexity of the case hourly rate for advisory and drafting work is between £300 and £350 per hour.
For court and Employment Tribunal work, it is £300-£350 per hour.
The minimum conference fee is £500.
A minimum hearing fee is £1,000. Trial and hearing fees are based on a fixed fee for each court day that is booked. Day 1 invariably includes a preparation element, thus it requires a higher fixed fee than the fees charged for subsequent court days.
The minimum fee for a Skeleton Argument, a pleading/statement of case, a witness statement or a complicated letter is £500. The level of fees depends on variable factors such as complexity, the likely time commitment and the importance of the case. We are compassionate and consider the Client’s circumstances when making decisions about fees.
Guidance for direct access clients can be found here.
A detailed client care letter will be provided to clients at the inception of a direct access retainer.
Regulatory and compliance
A client complaints policy is available on request. A client has the right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman the procedure for which can be found here.
You can write to the Legal Ombudsman at: Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton. WV1 9WJ, telephone number: 0300 555 0333; Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk.
More information about the Legal Ombudsman is available on their website: http://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/.
A client must complain to the Legal Ombudsman either within 6 years of a barrister’s actions / failure to act, or no later than 3 years after the client should reasonably have known there were grounds to complain.
The client must also complain to the Legal Ombudsman within 6 months of receiving the barrister’s final response to a complaint.
Clients can complain to the Legal Ombudsman if they are unhappy with the final response to their complaint, or if their complaint has not been dealt with within 8 weeks.