Under the Bar Standards Board's Direct Access (Public Access) scheme, you can go straight to a specialist barrister for advice, drafting, negotiation and representation, in almost any area of law.
Tell us about your matter and we will match you with specialist Direct Access barristers in the right area of law. There is no charge to enquire.
We will be in touch shortly. If your matter is urgent, please call 020 3771 9301.
MyBarrister connects you with specialist Direct Access barristers across every major area of law. You get senior expertise without the cost and delay of going through a solicitor first.
Direct Access, sometimes called Public Access, is a Bar Standards Board scheme that lets members of the public and businesses instruct a barrister directly. You do not need to engage a solicitor first.
Barristers are specialist advocates and advisers. Traditionally they were only engaged by solicitors on a client's behalf, but the Direct Access scheme allows you to go straight to the expert. Many MyBarrister members are King's Counsel or senior juniors with twenty years or more at the Bar, across family, criminal, immigration, employment, property, commercial, personal injury, professional negligence and private client work.
Through MyBarrister you can engage a barrister for a single piece of work, such as an initial advice, drafting a document, negotiating a settlement, or representing you at a hearing. You agree the scope and the fee with your chosen barrister in writing before any chargeable work begins.
A straightforward route to expert advice, with no pressure and no charge to enquire.
Complete the short form above with a few details, including your area of law. There is no charge to enquire and no obligation to instruct.
We introduce you to barristers whose specialism and experience suit your situation. You see their credentials before deciding.
You agree the scope of work and fixed fee with your chosen barrister in writing, then they get to work on your matter.
Whatever your matter, there is a specialist Direct Access barrister for it. Here are some of the areas most commonly covered on MyBarrister.
Divorce, financial settlement and child arrangements handled by specialist Direct Access barristers.
From police station advice to Crown Court trials, defended by specialist Direct Access barristers.
Visa applications, appeals and asylum claims advised on by specialist Direct Access barristers.
Unfair dismissal, discrimination and tribunal claims handled by specialist Direct Access barristers.
Landlord and tenant, boundary and possession disputes advised on by specialist Direct Access barristers.
Contract disputes, shareholder disputes and debt recovery handled by specialist Direct Access barristers.
Road traffic, workplace and clinical negligence claims advised on by specialist Direct Access barristers.
Claims against solicitors, accountants and other professionals pursued by specialist Direct Access barristers.
Will disputes, contentious probate and estate administration advised on by specialist Direct Access barristers.
Legal problems are stressful and expensive enough already. MyBarrister keeps the route to expert help short, transparent and within your control.
The barristers we introduce you to are full-time specialists with significant experience in their field. No generalists, no juniors learning on your case.
Barristers will usually quote a fixed fee for defined pieces of work. You know the cost before any chargeable work starts. No surprise bills.
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 barrister listed on MyBarrister is regulated by the Bar Standards Board and carries professional indemnity insurance through the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund.
You choose the barrister and the scope of work. You can instruct for one piece of advice, a single hearing, or your whole matter. No long retainers tying you in.
MyBarrister has been helping clients connect with specialist counsel for more than a decade, with introductions made across the full range of legal matters.
See the full range of areas of law on MyBarrister, or browse the complete directory of barristers with their chambers, year of call, areas of focus and direct access status.
Common questions about the Direct Access scheme, fees, court representation and how to get started.
Direct Access, also called Public Access, is a Bar Standards Board scheme that lets members of the public and businesses instruct a barrister directly, without going through a solicitor first.
The barristers listed on MyBarrister are Direct Access qualified, meaning you can engage them yourself for advice, drafting, negotiation and representation in court, across a wide range of legal areas.
Anyone can use Direct Access. You do not need a solicitor and you do not need any prior legal experience.
Your barrister will explain clearly what they can help with and what, if anything, you might need a solicitor for alongside their advice.
With a solicitor, the solicitor usually manages your case day to day, handling correspondence and evidence, and instructs a barrister on your behalf when advocacy or specialist advice is needed.
With Direct Access, you engage the barrister yourself, cutting out that middle step, and deal with them directly for advice, drafting, negotiation or representation in court.
It often is, because you pay one set of legal fees instead of two. You are not paying a solicitor to manage the file and separately instruct a barrister on top.
Costs still depend on the complexity and length of your matter, but cutting out a layer of fees is usually the main saving.
A barrister working under Direct Access cannot conduct litigation in the way a solicitor can. In practice, that means they cannot formally issue proceedings on the court record, manage an ongoing case file, hold client money in a client account, or correspond with the other side's solicitors as your representative on record.
For matters with heavy correspondence, evidence-gathering or ongoing case management, you may still need a solicitor for that part of the work, with the barrister providing the specialist advice and advocacy.
Most Direct Access barristers quote a fixed fee for a defined piece of work, such as an advice, a drafted document, or attendance at a hearing. Hourly rates are also used for ongoing advice.
You agree the fee with your chosen barrister in writing before any chargeable work begins, so there are no surprises.
Most enquiries are responded to within one working day. If your matter is urgent, please call us on 020 3771 9301 and we will prioritise the introduction.
Yes. Your enquiry is treated in strict confidence. Information you share is used only to introduce you to suitable barristers. Our handling of personal information is set out in our Privacy Policy.
Once you formally instruct a barrister, legal professional privilege applies to communications between you and counsel.
Yes. The barristers listed on MyBarrister practise across England and Wales, with members in London, the South East, the South West, the Midlands, the North West, the North East, Yorkshire and Wales.
Many will accept instructions remotely by video conference for advice, and travel for hearings. Some matters in Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under separate regimes, and we will tell you if your matter is best handled by counsel in those jurisdictions.
Yes. 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 the public and businesses.
Each also carries professional indemnity insurance through the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund.
One of our team will contact you, usually within one working day, to understand your matter in a little more detail. We will then introduce you to one or more specialist barristers whose experience fits your situation. You decide whom to instruct, and the barrister agrees the scope and fee with you in writing before any chargeable work starts.
Yes. You can complete the enquiry form and let us match you, or browse the full directory yourself and request a specific barrister by name. Either way, you decide who you instruct.
MyBarrister lists specialist Direct Access barristers across 57 areas of law, including:
A short summary of your situation is enough to start. Useful details include:
Please do not share confidential information until you have engaged a barrister formally.
Tell us about your matter and we will introduce you to specialist Direct Access barristers who can help. There is no charge to enquire.
