Some of our Barristers are Direct Access accredited. Direct Access means when a member of the public or specified companies wish to directly instruct a Barrister and not go through an intermediary such as a Solicitor. If you have a Direct Access query, please email the clerks at support@completecounsel.co.uk, they will be able to assist you with what is required from you. Namely, amount of papers required, seniority of the Barrister we recommend for your case, the complexity of the case and how much it is likely to cost.
Our Barristers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board. You can view the Bar Standards Board Register by clicking here.
What we need from you if we agree to take your case on:
The clerks will discuss what is required in relation to your individual case however we will need to confirm your identity first. For this we would need a copy of a passport or driving licence together with one or two utility bills in your name.
Each Barrister has differing hourly rates dependent upon their seniority and we will be happy to discuss this with you in a transparent way to ensure you know how much your case is likely to cost from start to finish. We have very clear rules on direct access. The clerks will give you guidance on that and if you wish to proceed, you will be supplied with a client care letter covering what we have agreed and any next steps. Payment must be made in full (cleared funds) before the Barrister carries out any direct access work and any further work will be agreed with you in advance.
If you have an immigration or tax case, they may be slightly different to those detailed above. For instance, some immigration cases do not attract VAT. That is dependent upon whether the person paying (and being billed) has UK status or not. The clerks will be happy to discuss this with you so please do not hesitate to contact us and we can take you through the procedure.
Some of our Barristers carry out commercial work under the public access scheme. These Barristers can advise you on the process of issuing a winding up petition and represent you at the Court hearing. If you are owed £750 or more by a Company, you may be able to apply to Court to close the company down (or ‘wind it up’). If you are a company which has had a winding up petition issued against you, we can also advise you on the process of defending the claim.
Barristers are not authorized to conduct litigation and all public access clients will need to conduct litigation themselves where necessary
This depends on the Barrister’s availability. The clerking team will assist you with any documents required and their availability to draft paperwork within a specific timescale.
Our Barrister’s will consider fixed fees for this work. This would need to be discussed with the Clerking team. They will be able to gauge how long the Barrister might take on the work and take into account if any travel etc. is required for a Court hearing. Please contact us to discuss.
We currently have a few Barristers undertaking this work. Junior Barrister hourly rates (as at April 2021) start at £175 (plus vat) per hour through to Senior Barristers rates of circa £350 (plus vat) per hour. Fees will depend on the seniority of the Barrister, complexity of the case and the time likely to be spent
If your case relates to a Tax matter then Counsels hourly rate is £1000 per hour (plus vat).
Further guidance on Public Access can be found on the Bar Standards Board https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/resources/public-access-guidance-for-lay-clients.html
Our paperwork turnaround is 21 days however a faster turnaround (including overnight) can be requested. Factors which may impact on turnaround time such as Barrister illness or annual leave, will be communicated to you by the Clerks upon receipt of papers or booking.
If you have a query or complaint arising out of the services of Complete Counsel please contact us either by calling 0844 225 4532 or by emailing support@completecounsel.co.uk You will receive a response within 48 hours.
This will be an initial response which will hopefully assist in rectifying the situation. However, if this does not resolve your complaint then you should put your complaint in writing to our Practice Director Claire Labio. This written complaint will be acknowledged in writing or by email within 48 hours of receipt with a full response following within 14 days thereafter. Should the complaint not be satisfied – the issue will be considered and reflected upon by our Board of Directors and a response given to you within 28 days of the date of receipt of a complaint to the Board.
As the Barristers who use this service are all sole practitioners you should at first attempt to resolve your complaint directly with them. They are all regulated by the Bar Standards Board. The Barristers Register can be checked here: https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/search-a-barristers-record/the-barristers-register.html
If that fails and the clerking team are unable to help resolve your complaint, you should contact: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
If you wish to complain about a Barristers behaviour you should contact: https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/complaints-and-professional-conduct/
In accordance with the Legal Ombudsman any complaint must be raised within 12 months of the date of the act or omission that your complaint refers to.