Related content
- Who we are
- What is a barrister
- Using a barrister
- Problems with a barrister
- Barristers and their fees
- How to hire a barrister
You can also hire a barrister directly, but only if they are authorised to work with the public. They are called ‘Public Access’ barristers. If you choose a Public Access barrister, you cannot usually apply for legal aid.
You can find Public Access barristers on the Bar Council’s Direct Access Portal.
It is important to find a ‘regulated’ legal professional. If a barrister is ‘regulated’, means that you can be sure that they are fully qualified and that there will be someone to help you if something goes wrong.
Barristers, solicitors and Chartered Legal Executives are all examples of independently regulated advisers. For a fuller explanation of all the legal advisers that are available see the Legal Choices website.
If the case needs to go to court, or if more specialist advice is needed, a solicitor will often instruct a barrister to offer expert advice about a specific area of the law, or to go to court and represent you.
Use our register to check if they are licensed to practice. If someone claims to be a barrister but is not listed on our register, they may not be allowed to practise.
Look for a barrister with experience that’s relevant to your case. Ask what kind of work they do and how they can help you.
Barristers should be clear on what their services may cost. If this information is not on a barrister’s website, you can ask them to give it to you in writing.
Find more information on barristers’ fees and how much they may charge.
If you do not use the services of a barrister or a solicitor, and you represent yourself in court or tribunal, this is known as becoming a Litigant in Person.
If you are thinking of becoming a Litigant in Person, you may find the following websites helpful:
- Advicenow , which has a dedicated section for people going to court, or thinking about it, without the help of a lawyer. They have a number of self-help guides as well as details of who can access Legal Aid, and how to access the free advice, practical support and representation that is available. In April 2020, we helped to fund an Advice Now publication called 'A survival guide to going to court when the other side has a lawyer, and you don't' as well as one called Hearings in a civil claim and one called Interim applications - how to ask a civil court to do something.
- Citizens Advice;
- the GOV.UK website which links to guidance from AdviceNow; and
- the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website , which has a range of resources to help those going to court without legal representation.
It might also be worth looking at LawWorks, Advocate and the Free Representation Unit to see if you might be eligible for pro bono legal help rather than having to represent yourself.
