Category: Civil Dispute

Property damage and how we can help you

Damage to property can be quite stressful for any landlord, tenant or lettings agent to deal with. It can cost you valuable time and money to get your property back in good condition. Landlords in particular are at risk because damage to your property can lower its value and reduce how marketable your property will be in the open market.

Common causes of property damage

Poor building works

Not all building works go to plan. Sometimes a builder you have asked to carry out some work on your property may carry out the work in a negligent manner, causing damage to the rest of your building. They may also use products like pipes that leak and cause water damage. Often you may need to hire another builder or tradesman to repair the damage, which leads to more costs.

Subsidence

Most homeowners and tenants do not realise their property is subsiding until they start to see visible cracks on the walls. Properties in areas with a lot of vegetation and clay soils are prone to subsidence as untamed tree roots encroach underneath the foundations causing the walls to crack.

Flood and fire damage

Floods and fires are a key risk for property owners. Flooding in the UK, especially during periods of high rainfall, has meant that a number of properties have been damaged by floods while the risk of a fire erupting is one that is present all year round.

Vandalism and impact damage

Tenants or any other person can vandalise your property. Properties can also suffer impact damage which can happen, for example, when a vehicle drives into the property (this happens surprisingly often).

How barristers can help

Barristers can help you by:

• Considering your case and advising you on the best legal and commercial options to rectify your property

• Identifying who is at fault for the damage to your property

• Recovering the cost of repairs

• Advising on the legal options available to you to protect your property against any losses in the event of any unavoidable future damage

Contact our team of expert property barristers today to discuss your options.

Photo: home green by nikcname licensed under Creative commons 2

How a barrister could help with your will dispute

Seeking out family barristers directly could prove to be highly beneficial if you find yourself involved in a will dispute. Not only is a barrister uniquely positioned to be able to provide you with advice on legal matters, but they can also help when it comes to strategy.

Expertise

It may be the case that you’re already working with a solicitor on your will dispute, but a barrister could be able to add an additional layer of expertise, especially when it comes to negotiation strategy, or if you have a court hearing coming up. Many barristers are specialists in contentious probate, and deal with similar types of issues every day, in a huge range of situations. That means a barrister is best positioned to objectively look at a will dispute and can spot any potential weaknesses in an argument.

Objectivity

Whilst a solicitor may be involved in the conduct of your case day to day with tasks such as writing letters, procedural dealings, gathering any evidence and preparing documents, a barrister will be able to take a step away from the case. Due to the fact barristers are usually self-employed and independent, they will be able to provide both objective and wholly practical advice which could prove to be crucial. They will advise on the strength of your case, whether you’re bringing a case or defending, and can also map out a strategy to follow in order to secure the best possible outcome.

Case assessment

After all the evidence has been gathered and some initial negotiations are underway, a barrister can once again prove to be indispensable. Their objectivity can be used to make a realistic assessment of any claim and whether or not it would be successful if the case were to proceed to court. It’s worth remembering that barristers are more than just experts in the area of law they specialise in, they are also highly trained when it comes to court procedure. They can assess all the practical matters which could either strengthen or weaken either a claim or a defence in a will dispute.

If you think your will dispute could benefit from the unique perspective of a barrister, then we have over a thousand highly skilled and fully accredited direct access barristers just waiting to help. Enter your contact details and a brief outline of your case to receive a completely free, no-obligation quote today.

Find an expert barrister for your sexual harassment claim

Sexual harassment in the workplace is unacceptable – period. Unfortunately, it still happens despite laws to protect workers.

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment constitutes any form of behaviour of a sexual nature that is unwelcome. The majority of complainants are women, although men can also be the victims of sexual harassment.

It’s important to remember that harassment is not about having a laugh or a ‘bit of fun’, it’s about control and power. Sexual harassment can manifest itself in many different forms but can be broadly placed into three groups:

Verbal

If a colleague makes remarks about your appearance, your body or your clothes, that is deemed to be sexual harassment, as are indecent remarks, questions or comments about your sex life or requests for sexual favours, and wolf-whistling.

Threats or promises concerning the loss of your job or changes to your employment conditions in return for sexual favours are deemed to be sexual harassment.

Non-verbal

• Looking or staring at your body
• Displaying images of a sexually explicit nature i.e. pin-ups or calendars
• Sending texts of a sexual nature
• Sending emails of a sexual nature or containing explicit images

Physical

• Physical contact of any kind
• Sexual assault
• Rape

What can you do if you are a victim of sexual harassment?

If the sexual harassment continues after you have confronted the perpetrator and complained to your employer, you may seek redress through an industrial tribunal. In the event that your tribunal is unsuccessful, you should seek the advice and intervention of a solicitor or specialist employment lawyer.

However, you can also go to barristers direct for expert legal advice or representation in your case for sexual harassment, potentially saving you thousands of pounds. At Barristers4u we have over a thousand accredited barristers throughout England and Wales, so you can be sure that you will find a specialist in sexual harassment cases to represent you. For your convenience, we can set up video conferencing facilities, so that you can have confidential discussions with your barrister, wherever you are located in the UK.

If you think you are a victim of sexual harassment at work, don’t suffer in silence. You can obtain a free quote from a barrister with no obligation, so why not contact us today for more information and advice.

Photo: Stop! by thematthewknot licensed under Creative commons 2

How has the recent changes to provision of legal services affected your purchase of legal services?

Accessing a lawyer or any kind of legal aid is, for many of us, a scary decision. These are the people that know The Rules. You know the ones, The Rules to living life which we are all overly cautious to avoid breaking. Sure, maybe we’ve broken one or two minor ones accidentally—just a few miles per hour over the speed limit when we’re stressed from a long day at work, or perhaps left the store having forgotten to pay for a chocolate bar, only to realise once you’re at home—but as a society in general most of Britain are rather nervous when approaching someone ‘of the law’.

Another factor preventing many people from accessing the legal aid that they deserve, is the cost. Solicitors rarely represent a client in court, so they need to hire out a Barrister to represent you, at extra cost to yourself. Between the solicitor, court fees, Barrister fees, a court case could cost you thousands of pounds. Without knowing exactly how much you will spend, it is difficult for to decide the best way to handle your own claim.

There are so many of us that don’t know what we would be entitled to. Perhaps it’s all the going backwards and forwards between lawyers and judges, or maybe that we don’t understand the language of law, but whatever the reason is, the whole legal aid process is typically seen as a hassle which has a reputation to take months, or even years, to settle a dispute.

What if I told you, that has recently changed? That you can now access legal services from the comfort of your own home? What if there was a way to combat all three of these problems with one, easy to use, simple website? Barristers4U is an online Chamber company based in Cardiff which provides a range of Barristers, from motor to civil dispute, to businesses and the public. All it takes is one online form to be able to talk to a Barrister and obtain legal advice and service. The great thing about Barristers4u is that it cuts out the middle man – the solicitor – saving you time, hassle, and cost. The Barristers will provide you with an upfront quote for their services, meaning you don’t have to worry about extra costs building up; you know what you’re getting, and how much it will cost you. Barristers can charge less than solicitors as they have a smaller overhead fee, and they don’t need to charge for offices and administration.

Barristers4u are friendly and helpful, so you don’t have to worry if seeking legal advice is something you are nervous about. Once you’ve submitted your enquiry, a Barrister will be in touch to discuss your case with you. Your quote is free, with no obligation, and there are thousands of Barristers across England and Wales so you can compare quotes and services, meaning you are able to choose a Barrister which you believe is best suited to your needs. All the Barristers are accredited and regulated by the Bar Standards Board so you won’t lose out on quality or expertise. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Barristers4u puts you in the driver’s seat, so you can have your say on your case. They can even help you set up a video conference with your Barrister to ensure secure meetings wherever you are.

All too often, if we do create a case, we hand it over to the legal team, thinking they know better than us. In doing this, we don’t fully understand the decisions being made, and are more vulnerable to a cost that is much bigger than our budget. We may end up with a decision that we aren’t fully satisfied with, and the entire case is out of our hands. You are the most important person in your case, so imagine how empowering it would feel to be able to take control of your case despite having no legal experience. The direct access Barristers make that possible for you, listening to exactly what it is you want from your case and always making sure you are consulted in every decision.

Public access Barristers have been available since 2004, but this service wasn’t as readily available in Wales; Barristers4u are the first online direct access company to operate in Wales. This is completely reinventing the way we can obtain legal services; thanks to the internet and the public access Barristers, professional legal advice is just a click of a button away, like adding a carton of milk to your online basket. Just go to Barristers4u at anytime, anywhere, for free, no obligation quotes and find the best Barrister for you. 

Go straight to an expert for your land dispute

If you are a property owner, then chances are at some point you’ve had some level of involvement in a dispute concerning land boundaries, access, right of way or encroachment. Land disputes can become intensely personal and emotional, given that, more often than not, the other party is a neighbour or family member.

Or perhaps you are dealing with issues concerning the enjoyment of your own property and use of your own land.

If either scenario is applicable to you, you are strongly advised to seek legal advice from the outset.

Property disputes can range from the erecting of a fence by a neighbour that encroaches upon your land, to an issue concerning a right of way up a lane that accesses your property. These are all disputes which can be a drain on your valuable time, emotions and your wallet.

Property disputes are often bitterly, long fought-out disputes and can ultimately be costly too.
For that reason, property law matters need to be handled in a professional and knowledgeable manner. Instructing a Barrister from the outset can assist you greatly in achieving the best outcome or compensation available, given that Barristers are specially trained in negotiation and fully versed in any applicable principles of law.

Most of the legal principles involved in property disputes call for no less than an expert in property law. Barristers are highly trained individuals who have spent many years in study and training to reach the stage of being called to the Bar. In medical terms, they would be Consultants. Therefore, when you contact a Barrister in relation to your property dispute via Barristers4U, you can be assured that you’re getting an expert in that field. A Barrister who has attended to many such proceedings and who is technically sound on all aspects of the governing law.

It’s always advisable to seek out an expert to handle your property dispute. The complexities of the law involved and Court appearances mean that it is imperative you engage an expert of the highest calibre to assist. A Barrister is the most highly qualified legal representation available to the public, and it is always worth engaging him/her from the outset in order that they are fully up to speed on all details well in advance of any Court date.

Don’t forget that most property disputes don’t make it into Court and can usually be agreed outside the doors of the Courtroom. Instructing a Barrister from the outset can assist you greatly in achieving the best outcome or compensation available.

If you’ve recently had issues concerning your property, and are unsure of how to proceed in order to have such issues rectified and to receive the correct compensation, a Barrister will immediately steer the ship for you. Contact us today to find an expert in property as well as the art of negotiation, so you can get your dispute solved sooner rather than later.

When can civil dispute barristers help?

When a disagreement occurs between two individuals or an individual and an organisation, it’s often referred to as a civil dispute. Unlike criminal cases, a civil dispute doesn’t involve the police and there is no evidence of unlawful behaviour. Despite this, civil disputes can have a significant impact on the people affected.

Civil dispute barristers may assist on matters such as defamation, negligence, trespass and property claims. In addition to this, barristers who specialise in civil disputes may also advise on claims concerning intellectual property, probate or competition.

Due to the complexity of these claims, both claimants and defendants are likely to need expert legal assistance. Whether you want to bring a civil claim or need to defend one, it’s likely that you’ll need advice from a civil dispute barrister at some point.

Can you afford to access legal advice?

Even when people feel that they have been wronged, they can delay making a claim or launching a case. Often, potential claimants are worried about the cost of seeking legal advice and this can prevent them from taking action.

Although the legal system has implemented changes to make the process more accessible, many people still find it difficult to access cost-effective legal advice. Indeed, the cuts to Legal Aid mean that fewer and fewer people are able to seek legal help when they need to do so.

Fortunately, using a direct access barrister helps to cut costs and ensures that claimants and defendants can access help, as and when they need to.

When working with public access barristers, you can approach them yourself and discuss your situation with them. Instead of paying a solicitor and a barrister, you can simply instruct a direct access barrister to handle the matter on your behalf, if you choose to do so.

Working with a direct access barrister

Before you instruct any barrister to carry out work on your case, however, you’ll want to get an estimate of how much you’ll need to pay and what the likely outcome of the case is. With direct access barristers willing to provide a free quote, you’ll have all the information you need before you decide whether or not you want to move forward.

To learn more now, why not contact a public access barrister today?

Using A Barrister To Deal With Your Neighbour Issues And Disputes

Neighbours can fallout over many reasons such as excessive music, loud pets and/or boundary disputes. It can be emotionally draining and very expensive to take your neighbour to court so lets discuss today how else we can potentially deal with these neighbours.

Even neighbours you get on with could start a dispute at any time for example, if you decide to plant a tree in the garden that they know if the future might block their sunlight.

First and foremost you should always try explaining to your neighbour in a calm and polite manner of your point of view and how you can ensure it never becomes an issue. Until you point out the obvious your neighbour they might not know how petty they are being and you might find a resolution.

You should also be open minded and willing to find the best resolution for both of you. Never be demanding because nobody ever wants to be told what to do.

You should always do this face-to-face because there is nothing more under-miming than coming home to a letter or note from your neighbour moaning about the civil dispute. This will also avoid any mis-interpretation.

Always remember that your main aim is to resolve the issue and keep a good relationship between you and your neighbour. Because you never know how long you will have to live next to them for, so always keep this in mind.

Mediation

If you’ve tried several times with your neighbour and still cannot get any resolution then you could seek mediation from an unrelated third party.

You can setup a voluntary mediation session on neutral ground that you and your neighbour can attend. Because the mediator is impartial they will facilitate the discussion and take on board both sides of the story allowing both parties to clearly speak on their side of the matter. Always remember that a mediator isn’t a judge and cannot force anyone to do anything. They attempt to find resolution and make a recommendation that you can choose to either follow or ignore.

If the neighbour is a tenant you could also raise this issue with the landlord. Because the landlord is ultimately responsible for the tenant in his property.

If this is a noise dispute then you can complain to the local council. The local council will investigate and decide if there are any legal obligations here. If there are laws governing the dispute then the local council can issue notices. If this is ignored then penalties can be imposed forcing the neighbour to resolve the dispute.

If your neighbour is abusive or violent then you can report such anti-social behaviour immediately to the police. Any other anti-social behaviour e.g. discrimination can be reported to the local council to make a formal complaint.

Legal Action

Your last resort is always legal action and potentially court proceedings. This is also likely to ruin any long term relationship with your neighbour but will get the issue resolved. Because of changes in regulations you can now ask barristers directly for advice and then representation instead of solicitors.

So if you have no other choice, contact Barristers 4U today for expert legal advice to resolve your civil dispute today and get a free no obligation quote.