Barristers are able to provide specialist legal advice, drafting and advocacy services to the public direct without the intervention of a solicitor. These rules known as the Public Access Rules came into force on 6th July 2004.
Here are some examples of work I can carry out for you.
- I can appear on your behalf at court.
- I can give you legal advice.
- I can draft legal documents for you, such as a contract or statement of claim.
- I can advise you on the formal steps which need to be taken in proceedings before a court or other organisation and draft formal documents for use in those proceedings.
- I can draft and send letters for you including a ‘letter before action’. I can assist you with drafting letters but, if your case goes to court, the letters will need to be sent out in your name.
- If a witness statement is needed from you, I can draft it from what you tell me. I may also be able to help finalise a witness statement from another person based on the information that person has provided.
- I can advise you on the need for expert evidence and on the choice of a suitable expert. However I may not instruct an expert on your behalf. Expert evidence is evidence about a professional, scientific or technical matter provided by an individual with expertise in that area.
- I can negotiate on your behalf and can attend meetings or investigative hearings where appropriate.
- I can appear on your behalf in ADR such as mediation or arbitration.