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What does a solicitor do?
Solicitors traditionally have been the first point of contact for anyone who needs legal services. Solicitors can start proceedings off in the correct direction, however they do not specialise in particular areas of law and therefore cannot provide the most definitive answer available like a barrister.
What does a barrister do?
The barrister is the finest of legal representatives and have specialist knowledge in particular fields of law. Their depth of understanding of this law is far above and beyond any solicitors. This means if you need a truly definitive opinion, a barrister is who you need to consult.
How quickly can I get an opinion?
Direct Legal Services is solely for the purpose of instructing barristers. Direct Legal Services has access to all chambers in England And Wales, meaning if you need to move fast we can get you in contact with a barrister inside the working day.
How do I know how much it will cost?
All costs and charges are given to you the client before proceeding with the opinion, so you know definitively and clearly what it will cost.
Why a barristers opinion instead of a solicitors?
The barrister is the finest of legal representatives and have specialist knowledge in particular fields of law. There depth of understanding of this law is far above and beyond any solicitors. This means if you need a truly definitive opinion, a barrister is who you need to consult..
How long does it usually take to obtain an opinion?
Direct Legal Services specializes in providing you, the client, with your opinion as soon as possible. You let Direct Legal Services know your time frame and we will find a barrister who can complete the work within it.
Will I still be able to instruct a barrister if my case goes to court or arbitration?
Direct Legal Services can instruct counsel without a solicitor in almost all civil (ie non-criminal) matters. A barrister would act in court proceedings and represent you at hearings without a solicitor. If you are considering instructing a barrister in this way, we would normally advise that you first have a face-to-face conference.
Can a barrister draft documents for me?
Yes, there are a large variety of documents which clients ask barristers to draft. As well as formal particulars of claim, defences and counterclaims for use in court, Barristers can, for instance, draft standard contractual terms and conditions, submissions to planning authorities, and special contractual conditions in sales of land. They can also draft formal letters for you to send to other people, such as one threatening legal action.
I am very busy can I conference with a barrister on the phone?
At Direct Legal Services, our service has been designed to fit around people working on a schedule, as such the telephone conference is an integral part of our service, please contact us to arrange a telephone conference.
Who do I pay, Direct Legal Services or the barrister himself?
You will pay us, and we will pass payment on to the barrister. We will ask for a debit or credit card (with a small surcharge for credit cards) payment when we agree to instruct a barrister for you. If that is not possible we can discuss other methods, but this may lead to delay.
My paperwork is a nightmare and my solicitor normally arranges it, can you?
We will do our best to assist, but we are not lawyers, and cannot give legal advice in respect of the papers in the way a solicitor might.
I am not familiar with communicating with a barrister, do you provide help?
There is no specialist knowledge required in communicating with barristers. All they will want is an account written in simple English of your problem, and copies of the relevant documents. There is no
advantage in using legal terms or any particular way of addressing them. If however you do want any help with this we will be happy to provide it.
I have a meeting at which I would like a barrister present, is that possible?
Yes, in most cases, if you have a meeting and you think a barrister will be of assistance and can translate the legal aspects clearly for you, we can happily arrange an on site meeting for you. Please discuss with us your precise requirements and we will be happy to advise.
I am not in a rush for my opinion, is it still cheaper to use Direct Legal Services?
Absolutely. Because we are solely designed to instruct barristers, we have much lower costs than a solicitor. Because of the number of instructions we make, the barristers fees are not as high. When both solicitor and counsel are instructed, the solicitor’s fees are usually more than the barrister’s. Solicitors tend to have higher overheads than barristers and this is reflected by them generally charging higher rates.
I require a written opinion, how quickly can I get one?
We can usually arrange written advice within 72 hours. We and the barristers we instruct aim to be flexible and if there was a compelling reason would endeavor to provide the opinion even quicker than this.
My situation is quite in depth, can I have a face to face conference?
Many people find that a face to face conference allows them to cover more comprehensively
their position. We can arrange face to face conferences at both the barristers chambers and, if necessary at your place of business etc.
What if litigation becomes unavoidable?
The whole emphasis of the legal system now is to avoid litigation if at all possible. A timely consultation with an experienced barrister will help you avoid such litigation whether as applicant or respondent. However if litigation becomes unavoidable your chosen barrister will advise you and us of the appropriate way forward. Remember the old adage, the only winners in litigation are the lawyers!
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