Direct Access

Becket Chambers provides a high-quality, value for money legal service to clients via the Direct Public Access (DPA) scheme, which, in the right circumstances, can save you money by working directly with us, without the need for a solicitor.

Instruct a barrister

Qualified DPA barristers

Our clients choose Becket Chambers not only for our unrivalled specialist knowledge across the range of our legal expertise, but also for our approachability and commitment to helping all our clients benefit from high-quality legal advice and advocacy. Barristers at Becket Chambers are qualified to accept instructions under the DPA scheme across a comprehensive range of practice areas.

BC0024

Under the direct access scheme, you can access specialist legal advice from highly experienced barristers dealing with:

  • Adoption and other care arrangements for children
  • Boundary disputes
  • Commercial law relating to your business or property
  • Condemnation and cash forfeiture
  • Divorce – disputes about financial arrangements
  • Driving offences
  • Employment – tribunals, dismissal, discrimination and TUPE
  • Fly-tipping
  • Injunctions to protect you, your family or your property
  • Landlord and tenant (for business or residential)
  • Paternity
  • Personal injury
  • Planning
  • Property and land
  • Residence Orders for children
  • Rights of way
  • Probate, inheritance and contesting a will

Your barrister will be supported by a team of experienced clerks dedicated to offering you the highest standards of client care.

BC0006

Becket Chambers is proud of its reputation for excellence in all areas of advocacy and advisory work, and we aim to provide the highest quality of service possible at all times.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a legal issue and are considering talking to a barrister under the DPA scheme, here are some of the common questions.

Under the Direct Public Access Rules there is a range of work that barristers may carry out, as well as some things they are not allowed to do. DPA barristers can advise you on the law, draft documents for you to use, and represent you before courts and tribunals.

Barristers do not handle client money or undertake the administrative management of a case proceeding through a court (i.e. they cannot conduct litigation).

Your barrister can draft letters on your behalf.

Your DPA barrister cannot send letters to other parties or the court for you. It will be your responsibility to engage in all correspondence, not the barrister’s.

Your barrister can appear on your behalf to argue your case at court.

If a witness statement is needed from you (or a witness), your barrister can review a draft statement you have prepared and finalise it as a statement. Your barrister cannot interview a witness on your behalf or prepare their statement. You will have to do this. Your barrister cannot undertake any investigations or enquiries on your behalf. Any investigations and enquiries will be your responsibility.

Your barrister can advise you on the need for expert evidence and on the choice of a suitable expert.

Your DPA barrister may not instruct an expert on your behalf. The responsibility for instructing the expert (whether of your own choice or as recommended by your barrister) will be yours.

If you decide to use the Direct Public Access scheme to instruct a barrister, you will be responsible for:

● choosing the barrister you would prefer to work with.
● gathering evidence to support your case.
● drafting witness statements (whether your own or other people’s).
● managing all the correspondence and administration relating to your case, including with the court.

Every case is different, so we ask you to contact the clerks for a no-obligation indication of likely fees.

Wherever possible we will try to agree a fixed fee for the work required. Any fees quoted are dependent on the experience of the barrister, the nature of the case, the volume of case papers and the time involved in preparation and representation.

Unfortunately the current rules prohibit barristers from accepting instructions where the client is funded by Legal Aid, unless it is through a solicitor. If you’re eligible for Legal Aid (find out about Legal Aid here), we can recommend suitable solicitors or you can search via the Law Society.

First, contact the clerks for a discussion. If they think your case is eligible, they will email you a referral form to complete.

You’ll need to provide all relevant case information detailing the nature of your case, any court dates, time deadlines and a chronology of events.

The clerks will forward your completed form to your preferred barrister, who will consider whether your case is suitable for Direct Access and advise on their availability.

Once your case has been accepted by your barrister, the clerks will tell you what documentation is required.

Usually, an initial case conference is arranged, and you will be quoted a fee for this (and, if possible, you will be given an indication of other likely fees).
If you are happy to proceed on these terms, the clerks will send you a client care letter. This letter will form the contract between you and the barrister, and contains the terms and conditions.

Once you have signed and returned the client care letter, we will be able to proceed on your case. As your case proceeds, you will receive a further letter of agreement before any subsequent work is undertaken. All correspondence between you, your barrister and the clerks will be recorded and securely stored.

Start by looking at our barrister profiles. To discuss your needs, or find out about the availability of a particular barrister, contact the clerks.

Direct Access Barristers

Melanie McIntosh image
Read more

Melanie McIntosh

2002 (Lincolns Inn)

Philip Newton image
Read more

Philip Newton

1984 (Middle Temple)

Ronald Edginton image
Read more

Ronald Edginton

1984 (Grays Inn)

Sita Cox image
Read more

Sita Cox

1987 (Middle Temple)

Christopher Wall image
Read more

Christopher Wall

1987 (Lincolns Inn)

Corey Mills image
Read more

Corey Mills

1987 (Middle Temple)

Clive Styles image
Read more

Clive Styles

1990 (Grays Inn)

Paul Tapsell image
Read more

Paul Tapsell

1991 (Middle Temple)

Jane Carter image
Read more

Jane Carter

2001 (Inner Temple)

Melanie McIntosh image
Read more

Melanie McIntosh

2002 (Lincolns Inn)

Gayle Ashley image
Read more

Gayle Ashley

1997 (Middle Temple)

Melanie Andrews image
Read more

Melanie Andrews

2005 (Middle Temple)

Adrian Pidduck image
Read more

Adrian Pidduck

July 2012 (Middle Temple) (previously solicitor admitted 1996)

Sophie Gray image
Read more

Sophie Gray

2012 (Lincolns Inn)

Lavinia Glover image
Read more

Lavinia Glover

2015 (Inner Temple)

Nicole Jennings image
Read more

Nicole Jennings

July 2016 (Middle Temple)

Allen Worwood image
Read more

Allen Worwood

October 2019 (Inner Temple)

Christian Fox image
Read more

Christian Fox

November 2019 (Middle Temple)

Nathanael Harding image
Read more

Nathanael Harding

2015 (Middle Temple)

To get in touch regarding Direct Access please fill in the form below



    Reviews

    "That’s amazing, thank you for doing a great job. Client is over the moon."

    Miss M from solicitors instructing Corey Mills

    "Just a note to say she’s been fab on my case, I’ve been in contact more than I usually would as the client very vulnerable, and Cara looked after her brilliantly and with care."

    Miss H from solicitors instructing Cara Radford

    "Very happy today thank you.....Barrister was great, listened to me and put forward what he needed to."

    Client instructing Chris Wall through Solicitors - July 23

    "That’s amazing, thank you for doing a great job. Client is over the moon."

    Miss M from solicitors instructing Corey Mills

    "Just a note to say she’s been fab on my case, I’ve been in contact more than I usually would as the client very vulnerable, and Cara looked after her brilliantly and with care."

    Miss H from solicitors instructing Cara Radford

    "Very happy today thank you.....Barrister was great, listened to me and put forward what he needed to."

    Client instructing Chris Wall through Solicitors - July 23