How MyBarrister Works
Your barrister is an expert who will advise you quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively on your legal problem. With direct access, you can instruct that barrister yourself, no solicitor needed at the start of most cases.
Explore the section
This page explains what MyBarrister offers, how the process works, and what to expect. If you want to go deeper, the two pages below cover suitability and the full instruction process.
How direct access works
The legal basis, the seven-step instruction process, identity checks, and what you do as a litigant in person.
Read the guide →Who direct access is for
Case suitability, when you still need a solicitor alongside, and what happens if you qualify for legal aid.
Check suitability →Why people start with a barrister
Barristers are often the best place to start when you have a pressing legal issue. They specialise in particular areas of the law that they know inside out, which is why solicitors involve them when they need expert input. Barristers deal with cases like yours every day.
Four things set the experience apart:
Specialist
Barristers focus on a narrow set of legal areas and build deep expertise within them. When you instruct one, you are talking to a true expert in your matter, not a generalist.
Practical
Barristers are focused on rapid action, whether in court, in negotiation, or when giving astute advice in time-critical situations.
Good value
Barristers are self-employed with low overheads. Because they pack a great deal of work into a short amount of time, they are often less expensive than people expect. You pay for one expert, not an extended team.
Fast and clear
Using a barrister feels different to working with many solicitors. You will feel the energy and see things happening quickly. Barristers respond promptly and explain matters clearly.
What MyBarrister offers
MyBarrister is a directory of around 200 specialist barristers across 57 areas of law, covering business and personal matters throughout England and Wales.
- A specialist for your matter. Browse by area of law or by region, then read each barrister's profile, qualifications, chambers, and fee guide.
- No charge to enquire. Submit an enquiry through any profile or specialism page and we will put you in touch with barristers who can help.
- No middleman fees. We do not take a cut of your barrister's fee. Barristers pay an annual membership to be listed; clients pay nothing to MyBarrister.
- Regulated representation. Every barrister on the platform is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds the public access qualification required to take instructions directly from members of the public.
What to expect
The process is intentionally straightforward.
The three-step process
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1
Tell us about your matter
Use the enquiry form or call us. There is no charge to enquire. We need a short outline of the issue, the area of law, and where you are based.
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2
We match you to barristers
We put you in touch with specialist barristers in the relevant area who are accepting direct access work.
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3
Agree a fee and proceed
You agree the fee directly with your chosen barrister before any work starts. Once you are both clear on the scope and the cost, the barrister gets to work.
A more detailed walkthrough of the instruction process, including identity checks, the client care letter, and how barristers handle litigation steps, is on the how direct access works page.
Ready to speak to a barrister?
Tell us about your matter. There is no charge to enquire, and no obligation to proceed.
Find a barrister Call 020 3771 9301Aren't barristers expensive?
A common assumption, but the reverse is often true. Barristers are self-employed and have fewer overheads than law firms, so they can offer good value. You pay for one expert rather than an extended team. By planning the best approach from the outset, you save time and money down the line. By going direct to a barrister, you avoid paying a solicitor as well.
Every case is different, but for straightforward matters that suit direct access, using a barrister is generally the best way to get a high-quality result at the right price. Full detail of how barristers charge, fixed fees, hourly rates, when fees are payable, is on the fees page.
Confidentiality and complaints
Your barrister has a strict professional duty to keep your affairs confidential. Communications with your barrister are protected by legal professional privilege, which prevents their disclosure in most circumstances. The only exception is that any lawyer may be required by law to disclose information to regulatory authorities, and to do so without first obtaining your consent.
If you have a complaint about a barrister, raise it first with the barrister or their chambers. The complaints procedure will be set out in the client care letter you receive at the start of your instruction. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Legal Ombudsman, an independent body that handles complaints about lawyers in England and Wales.
Legal Ombudsman
Phone: 0300 555 0333
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Web: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
Post: PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton WV1 9WJ
Complaints to the Legal Ombudsman must be made within six months of the final response from the barrister or chambers, no more than six years after the events complained of, and no more than three years after you became aware of the problem.
Frequently asked questions
What does MyBarrister do?
MyBarrister is a directory of around 200 specialist barristers across 57 areas of law in England and Wales. You can search by area of law or region, view each barrister's profile and fee guide, and submit a no-charge enquiry. There are no platform fees, barristers pay an annual membership to be listed.
Do I pay MyBarrister anything?
No. Clients pay nothing to MyBarrister. You pay your chosen barrister directly, at a fee you agree with them before work starts.
Is every barrister on MyBarrister qualified to take direct instructions?
Yes. Every barrister listed holds the public access qualification required by the Bar Standards Board to take instructions directly from members of the public.
How do I know which barrister is right for my matter?
Each profile lists the barrister's areas of expertise, chambers, year of call, and a fee guide. You can also submit an enquiry and we will help match you to suitable barristers for your area of law.
What if I make a complaint?
Raise the complaint first with the barrister or their chambers, the procedure will be set out in your client care letter. If you are not satisfied, the Legal Ombudsman handles complaints about lawyers in England and Wales.
Ready to instruct a barrister?
Tell us about your matter. There is no charge to enquire.