See exactly how Direct Access barrister fees work, how they compare with using a solicitor and barrister together, and get a personalised quote before you decide anything.
Tell us briefly about your matter and we will introduce you to a Direct Access barrister who can quote you a fee in writing. There is no charge to enquire.
We will be in touch shortly with next steps and, where possible, an indication of likely cost. If your matter is urgent, please call 020 3771 9301.
MyBarrister connects you directly with barristers under the Bar Standards Board's Direct Access (also called Public Access) scheme. You engage a barrister for a single defined task rather than an open-ended retainer, and you see the price in writing before anything chargeable happens.
Barristers can advise, draft documents and represent clients in court, tribunals or mediations. They can also negotiate and attend meetings on your behalf. Because you instruct them yourself, direct instruction can resolve issues more quickly, more efficiently, and often at a lower overall cost than going via a solicitor first.
Some cases are still better handled with a solicitor working alongside the barrister, for example where there is heavy correspondence, evidence-gathering or case management to run in parallel. We will always be upfront with you if that looks like the better route for your matter.
Where a solicitor instructs a barrister on your behalf, you typically pay two sets of professional fees: the solicitor's and the barrister's. With Direct Access, you deal with the barrister, or their clerk, yourself, so there is only one professional fee to budget for on matters that do not need a solicitor's involvement.
Whichever way you go, the fee is always agreed in advance of work commencing. Nothing becomes chargeable until you have seen the price and agreed to it in writing.
A straightforward route to expert advice and a clear price, with no pressure and no charge to enquire.
Complete the short form above with a few details, including the type of matter and, if you have one, a rough sense of budget. There is no charge to enquire and no obligation to instruct.
We introduce you to a barrister whose specialism, seniority and experience suit your matter and your budget. You see their credentials before deciding anything.
The barrister, or their clerk, sets out the scope of work and the fee in writing. Nothing is chargeable until you agree to proceed.
Fee arrangements are simpler than most people expect. Here is what determines what you will pay, and how.
The most common model. For a clearly scoped task, such as a written opinion, a document, or a hearing, the barrister quotes a single fee that covers the whole piece of work.
More common where the scope of advice is ongoing or hard to pin down in advance. You are told the hourly rate before any chargeable time is spent.
Usually via the barrister directly, or through their chambers clerk, who often handles quotes and billing. The fee and scope are confirmed in writing before work starts.
The barrister's seniority and call date (a junior versus a King's Counsel), the complexity and urgency of the matter, and whether a hearing is involved.
Whatever your matter, the same fee questions tend to come up. Here is a quick guide to each one.
For a clearly defined piece of work, such as advice, a document or a hearing, many barristers quote a single fixed fee agreed before they start. You know the total cost upfront.
Where the scope of the work is ongoing or harder to define in advance, some barristers charge by the hour instead. You are told the rate before any chargeable time is spent.
Seniority and call date, the complexity of your matter, urgency, and whether a hearing is involved all influence how a barrister prices their work.
Instructing a barrister directly usually means paying one professional's fee instead of two, because you cut out the layer of solicitor's fees for cases that do not need one.
Many barristers ask for payment upfront, or a deposit, for a defined piece of work. Payment terms are set out in writing before you are committed.
It costs nothing to enquire, and you can get an initial quote from a barrister with no obligation to instruct them.
Most barristers are VAT-registered. Any VAT due will be shown clearly in the written fee quote you receive.
If your matter turns out to need more work than first thought, the extra work and fee are agreed in writing before it becomes chargeable.
You are not locked into an open-ended retainer. Instructions are usually for a defined piece of work, and you can discuss changes with your barrister or their clerk at any time.
Legal costs are stressful enough to think about without hidden extras. MyBarrister keeps the route to a clear, agreed price short and within your control.
For defined pieces of work, barristers will usually quote a fixed fee. You know the cost before any chargeable work starts. No surprise bills.
Getting matched with a barrister and receiving an initial quote costs nothing and carries no obligation to instruct.
Direct Access means you instruct the barrister directly. You are not paying a solicitor to instruct counsel on your behalf, which can substantially reduce overall cost.
Every quote is put to you in writing, setting out the scope of work and the fee, before anything becomes chargeable.
All barristers listed on MyBarrister are regulated by the Bar Standards Board and carry professional indemnity insurance through the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund.
MyBarrister has been helping clients connect with specialist counsel, on clear and agreed terms, for more than a decade.
Browse barristers by area of law to see their chambers, year of call, areas of focus and direct access status, or view the full directory.
Common questions about cost, how fees are agreed, and what to expect before you instruct.
Costs vary widely depending on the barrister, the complexity of your matter and the work involved. A single piece of written advice might cost a few hundred pounds, while representation at a hearing or a full trial can run to several thousand.
Every barrister will give you a personalised quote for your specific matter before you decide whether to instruct them, so you always know the cost before you commit.
Usually, yes. When you go through a solicitor who then instructs a barrister, you pay two sets of professional fees. With Direct Access you engage the barrister, or their clerk, yourself, so there is only one layer of fees to budget for.
Some complex cases still benefit from, or require, a solicitor alongside the barrister, in which case the cost comparison is less clear cut.
Fixed fees for a clearly defined piece of work, such as a written opinion, drafting a document or attending a hearing, are the most common arrangement for Direct Access work.
Hourly rates are more often used where the scope of advice is ongoing or hard to define in advance. Either way, the basis of charging is agreed with you before work begins.
Fees are agreed directly between you and the barrister, or via their chambers clerk, who often handles the administrative and financial side of an instruction. The agreed fee, and what it covers, is confirmed in writing before any chargeable work starts.
The main factors are the seniority and call date of the barrister, since a junior barrister typically charges less than a King's Counsel with decades of experience, along with the complexity of the matter, how urgent the work is, and whether the instruction includes a hearing or is advice only.
Typically, yes. For a defined piece of work, barristers commonly ask for payment in advance, or a deposit, before starting. The exact payment terms will be set out in the written agreement you receive before work begins.
Yes. It costs nothing to enquire through MyBarrister, and getting an initial quote from a barrister does not commit you to instructing them. You can review the proposed scope and fee and decide whether to proceed.
Yes. More senior barristers, including King's Counsel, generally charge more than junior barristers, reflecting their experience and track record. We can introduce you to barristers at different levels of seniority so you can weigh experience against budget.
If the scope of work grows beyond what was originally agreed, the barrister will discuss the additional work with you and agree a revised fee in writing before any extra work becomes chargeable. You are never committed to open-ended costs without being told first.
Most barristers are VAT-registered and will add VAT to their fees. Whether VAT applies, and at what rate, will be made clear in the fee quote you receive, so always check the written terms before instructing.
There is no charge to enquire through MyBarrister, and the initial process of matching you with a suitable barrister is free. The barrister's own legal advice is chargeable once you formally instruct them, in line with the fee agreed in writing. We do not offer free legal advice.
Yes. Fees for Direct Access work are negotiated directly with the barrister or their clerk. If a quote is outside your budget, it is worth asking whether the scope of work could be adjusted, or whether a different barrister might suit your budget better.
You are under no obligation to instruct. If a quote does not work for you, you can simply decide not to proceed, ask about a different scope of work, or ask to be introduced to another barrister. There is no charge for walking away.
Legal aid is rarely available through the Direct Access route. Direct Access is generally a privately funded way of instructing a barrister. If you think you may be eligible for legal aid, that is usually accessed through a solicitor rather than directly through a barrister.
Every barrister listed on MyBarrister is regulated by the Bar Standards Board, holds a current practising certificate, and is authorised under the Public Access scheme to accept instructions directly from members of the public. Each also carries professional indemnity insurance through the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund.
Tell us about your matter and we will introduce you to a Direct Access barrister who can give you a personalised, fixed-fee quote in writing. There is no charge to enquire.
