Direct access to the Bar

According to a report ‘Straight there, No Detours: Direct Access to Barristers’ published by the Westminster School of Law, 89% of those who bypassed solicitors and instructed barristers directly were said to have believed they got ‘better value for money’ and a ‘more personalised legal service’ than they would have done by going through a solicitor. Tim Dutton, QC, chairman of the Bar Council, said direct access sometimes gives clients of the Bar ‘a substantial edge in terms of price and quality of service. … barristers are under a duty to advise the client when a solicitor’s services would be in their best interests’. The Bar is holding a series of promotional activities promoting ways the public and organisations can instruct a barrister without first consulting a solicitor.