Put simply, ‘Public Access’ enables members of the public and businesses to instruct a Barrister directly to provide legal advice or representation in court.

Public Access allows the public or businesses to contract with (instruct) a Barrister directly.

The Barrister will accept your instructions to provide legal advice or to represent you in court or tribunal, unless a solicitor is necessary.

Not all Barristers are able to undertake Public Access work.

Before a Barrister is permitted to accept instructions directly from a member of the public, or business, he or she must have been fully qualified Barrister for more than three years and have completed the special course.

Public Access only operates within England and Wales.

Barristers provide expert legal advice and are specialist advocates.

They draft legal documents for clients, both general legal documents (e.g. Wills or Contracts) and litigation documents
(e.g. Claim Forms, Particulars of Claim and Defences), provide legal advice where there is a legal dispute (e.g. chances of success) and advise and represent clients in court.

Traditionally, Barristers have not been able to accept instructions to do legal work directly from a member of the public.

In July 2004, the Barristers’ governing body, the Bar Council, changed to rules so that Barristers can accept such work.