Client Care

OUR AIMS
  • Brooke Chambers strives to be fair and open in agreeing fees and is always willing to estimate or agree fees in advance of work being undertaken.
  • Brooke Chambers is committed to timeliness in all aspects of its members work.
  • A conflict-of-interest check will be carried out upon instructions being received and will assist proactively in making alternative arrangements in the event that a conflict arises.
  • Papers will be promptly returned to the professional client after completion of a case.
TRANSPARENCY OF FEES

Brooke Chambers is keen to provide open and transparent information in relation to the cost of its members’ legal services provision. We will assist you in deciding upon the appropriate counsel for your case and in estimating cost (where a fee has not been agreed in advance), whether you are a professional or a direct access client.

Before a member of Brooke Chambers undertakes any work and where an agreed fee has not been agreed, a cost estimate will be provided. In the event that a final figure cannot be estimated, we will provide details of the basis on which the fee will be calculated. Such basis might be an hourly rate or an agreed ceiling not to be exceeded without the agreement of the client.

Where a brief fee and/or daily refreshers are being estimated, we will provide an estimate of preparation time, case conference time, court days and any other aspect of the case that is within contemplation and is likely to have a bearing on the fee.

DIRECT ACCESS INSTRUCTIONS

Direct Access is the process where a member of the public is able to instruct a barrister directly, without engaging a solicitor.

There are distinct benefits to direct access, which include:

  • Having direct contact with the barrister of your choice;
  • Being provided with an early and accurate estimate of costs;
  • The avoidance of work and cost being duplicated;

Full Bar Standard Board Guidance on how the Scheme operates may be found here  Public Access guidance for the public (barstandardsboard.org.uk)

A barrister must have undertaken training in order to accept Direct Access cases. Currently, public funding (legal aid) cannot be used to instruct a barrister by direct access. In the event that you are eligible for, or have already been granted public funding for your case, we are able to assist by recommending an appropriate firm of solicitors.

If you chose to instruct a Brooke Chambers barrister directly, then the procedure is  straightforward:

  1. Telephone or email Brooke Chambers in order that we can arrange to obtain the relevant papers and instructions about your case.
  2. Your case will be reviewed by a Direct Access trained barrister with the appropriate expertise for your case.
  3. If your case is suitable to advance under the Direct Access scheme, you will receive an engagement letter (a contract between you and the barrister), which outlines the barrister’s role, the ambit of Direct Access, the work to be completed and the costs.
  4. You will be asked to provide proof of identity (such as a passport or driving licence) and proof of address (such as a utility bill or bank statement) in order to comply with BSB anti-money laundering regulations. Copies will be taken and held on file.
  5. You must return a signed copy of the engagement letter to us.
  6. Once the documentation is in place, your papers and instructions received and the fees agreed, a barrister will then proceed with your case.
CASE TIMESCALES

Depending on the nature of a case, there are various factors that are capable of influencing the timescales of a case, including:

  • The availability of the barrister instructed;
  • The availability of the client or relevant third parties;
  • The complexity of the case;
  • The quantity of papers that the barrister instructed needs to review;
  • The need for additional information or documents;
  • The approach taken by the other side in the case;
  • The intervention of third parties in the case;
  • Court waiting times.