Direct Access

In certain circumstances barristers at Francis Taylor Buildings will accept instructions without the involvement of an instructing legal professional.

There are many advantages of this route including: lower legal costs, efficient case management - avoiding duplication of work by other professionals on a case. Having the immediate access to expertise, the scheme allows you instant direct access to the top professionals in the field from the start of case, ensuring you get the best possible advice from the outset. Direct access break down into two routes - Licensed Access and Public Access.

Licensed Access

Licensed Access (previously know as "BarDIRECT" and "Direct Professional Access") allows non-legal professionals and organizations to instruct barristers by way of a license granted by the Bar Standards Board. The license can cover advice and representation and can permit licensees to instruct barristers either on their own affairs or on behalf of their clients.

Further details can be found at the Licensed Access section of the Bar Council website.

Public Access

In certain cases members of the public may instruct a barrister without having to involve an instructing solicitor or other intermediary.

Although the barrister's role remains essentially the same, members of the public may instruct a barrister directly through the public access scheme.

The main advantage of the public access scheme is that it could potentially save you money whilst giving you access to the Bar, since you would be paying for a barrister only instead of a barrister and solicitor.

Further details can be found at the Public Access section of the Bar Council website.

Please contact our clerks on 020 7353 8415 to discuss the right route for you.  For more information on the FTB members that you can instruct via public access, please select below;