Public Access

In certain cases a public access barrister, also known as a direct access barrister, can directly represent you or your organisation without a solicitor.

What is Public Access?

Members of the public may now go directly to a barrister without having to involve an instructing solicitor or other intermediary. Many of the barristers at Five Paper are qualified to accept public access instructions and act for a wide variety of clients, including limited companies, partnerships, businesses, directors, landlords, tenants, employers and employees. A barrister may choose whether or not to take a public access case. It is not suitable for particular types of work, for example, cases involving children or where you are legally aided.

What services can we provide?

The Public Access Scheme allows us to carry out a variety of work. Services include:

  • Advising on the merits, tactics and outcome of actual or potential claims. We can advise you how to resolve various types of disputes and how best to enforce your contractual and statutory rights.
  • Advising on procedures, policies and contracts, and assistance in drafting them.
  • Assistance in drafting correspondence and witness statements.
  • Drafting formal court documents such as claim forms, defences, injunctions and skeleton arguments.
  • Representing you in court, tribunals, regulatory and professional bodies, mediations and settlement negotiations.

What are the advantages?

You save the cost and inconvenience of not going directly to a barrister. You have direct contact with specialist and experienced legal advocates and advisors.

What questions can we help with?

We have experts in various fields of law, including property, housing, employment, discrimination, business immigration, health and safety, personal bankruptcy, corporate insolvency, consumer rights, asset recovery, the sale and supply of goods, company law and matrimonial finance. Types of questions that often arise include:

  • Do I have a claim, or a defence to a claim brought against me?
  • What are my contractual rights, and how can I enforce them?
  • How do I avoid becoming bankrupt?
  • How do I stop my house from being sold?
  • Do I have any rights in a property or business, and how can I protect or enforce them?
  • What can I do about being sacked or mistreated at work?
  • What are my obligations and rights as a director or shareholder?

You can find the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients here. Information regarding the specific Public Access work undertaken by members of chambers can be found on individuals’ profiles.

For our factsheet with details of the Public Access work we do in Employment Claims, please click here.
For our factsheet with details of the Public Access work we do regarding Winding-Up petitions, please click here.
For our factsheet with details of the Public Access work we do regarding Immigration appeals (First-tier Tribunal), please click here.

If you would like further information

Our friendly and knowledgeable clerks will be pleased to direct you to the person best able to help. Email them on clerks@fivepaper.com or telephone: +44 (0)20 7815 3200.

We look forward to working with you.