Category: Mediator

Almost half of drivers with 12 points keep their licence

If you’ve been caught speeding and have racked up 12 points then you’ll probably be wondering: ‘Is there anything I can do to save my driving licence?’ The good news is that almost half of all people with 12 points on their licence manage to avoid disqualification, so your chances are good as long as you get the right advice and representation.

According to Brake and Direct Line, 43% of drivers with 12 points manage to keep their licence. Here we explore how you too could be able to keep your licence with 12 points.

Mitigating circumstances

In some cases there can be considered to be mitigating circumstances for speeding. These mitigating factors can include the speed not being excessive, there being only light traffic on the road at the time of the offence, or even a momentary lapse in concentration.

Exceptional hardship

In cases where exceptional hardship would be caused by driving disqualification, the courts can decide to apply the points but not disqualify the driver. This case can be argued if this would lead to you losing your job or being unable to work.

Flimsy evidence

In some cases a speeding charge can be disputed on the basis of flimsy evidence. Laser detectors and other speed detection devices can sometimes be overruled in court when the evidence is not entirely clear-cut.

Get the best representation

While a lot of people are able to keep their driving licence in certain cases, you need to put forward the best possible defence that you can. In order to do so you should get yourself the best representation so that you get the best advice and have the best chance in court. A barrister will be able to help build your case and argue that you should not be disqualified on the basis of mitigating circumstances and exceptional hardship.

Get a free quote for representation from Barristers4u today and you could save yourself from disqualification and all of the headaches that come along with this.

Photo: driving by fo.ol licensed under Creative commons 2

Can a barrister help with my drink drive case?

Law enforcement operatives will have you believe that drink drive cases are clear-cut and unavoidable, but this is not the case. With a good drink drive barrister by your side, you stand a chance of being able to overturn a drink drive accusation in some circumstances. Here we explore the ways in which they can help:

Speak on your behalf in court

A barrister will know what to say, how to say it and when to say it. This can make every difference in a court and can swing your chances of conviction or exoneration. You will only get one chance in court, so getting it right is essential. Make sure you have the best representation.

Give you guidance

For most drink drive offenders it will be their first time in a courtroom. This can be very intimidating and they are structured to be so. Knowing what to expect and exactly what will happen will help to put your mind at rest and allow you to keep a level head for the interactions that matter.

Give advice about your plea

Sometimes the best thing to do is to admit your guilt and receive a lighter sentence for showing remorse. A barrister will be able to tell you when this is the right course of action so that you are making the correct plea.

Build your defence

A barrister can help by building a defence for you if there is one to build. They will never create a defence where one does not exist, but they will be able to turn the real course of events into an effective defence to put in front of the court.

Determine special reasons

In some cases, drink drive defences can rely on special reasons for your actions. Your barrister will be able to help you establish this defence if it does exist.

Obtaining a quote

Getting a fee quote from a barrister will be completely free, so there is nothing to lose at the outset. A barrister could save you from significant fines and protect you from losing your license too.

Photo: Driving by Joe Le Merou licensed under Creative commons 2

How to choose the right direct access barrister

Are you considering choosing to brief a public access barrister direct to represent you, and provide you with high-calibre legal advice and expert advocacy?

One of the things that could be causing you to hesitate is that it can seem a daunting prospect to select from direct access barristers in your area.

You may need some help in deciding which one to choose. After all, they have all studied hard to reach this level of professionalism and can appear to offer similar services.

Particularly if you are working within a tight timescale, you may not want to waste a lot of time “shopping around”, with such a diverse range of individuals and companies to sift through.

What to look for in direct access barristers

The fees charged may be highly significant to you if your legal proceedings involve a tight budget or little or no financial compensation.

Most public access barristers are not tied by prescribed fee structures which means you can negotiate with them on an individual basis.

However, it is highly recommended that the decision is based not just on cost. This is likely to be a crucial or sensitive legal need they must meet, so the cheapest may not be the right one for you.

You need to study the barrister’s expertise to ensure that their particular experience and skills match your specific legal needs well.

Also, check their availability as early in the process as possible. Choosing a great match and then finding your barrister can’t meet any legal deadlines you face can be frustrating.

Asking for CVs is commonplace, as this will give you a broader overview of the individual barrister rather than relying on a marketing profile.

Establishing trust and communication

The chances are your relationship with your barrister will be quite an “intimate” one, even if this is a commercial case. You need to establish strong trust and communication to work together effectively, so you need to find a barrister that you feel comfortable with as well as one with the right level of competence.

Clearly then, it comes down to personal choice when choosing a relevant direct access barrister.

However, to save time – and money – use our website to find a direct access barrister ready and able to support you every step of the way. Not least as within minutes you can compare areas of expertise and costs.

This can be the perfect starting point for finding the right barrister to secure the result you need.

Ending boundary disputes with direct access barristers

When you buy a property, the boundaries should be clearly marked on the deeds of the house or flat. Despite this, many property owners find that their boundaries are the cause of disputes. If your neighbours believe that you’re using their property, for example, they may become unpleasant or even abusive.

Similarly, if you have a right of way over land, the landowners should not be able to restrict you using this right. Perhaps you need to travel across your neighbours land to reach your driveway, for example? If they prevent you from doing this, your enjoyment of your own property will be severely diminished.

Have things got out of hand?

When these types of disputes arise, it’s easy for things to escalate. Your neighbours may begin to exhibit anti-social behaviour or undertake petty actions in order to irritate you. Whilst we should feel relaxed in our own homes, boundary issues can have a significant impact on your way of life. Rather than looking forward to going home at the end of the day, you may begin to dread what you’re returning to.

In order to resolve these types of disputes, it may be necessary to access legal help. Unfortunately, people tend to assume that legal advice is very expensive and this can result in disputes going on for far longer than they need to.

If you’re worried about the cost of getting legal help, why not contact a direct access barrister?

Taking action with public access barristers

When you contact a barrister directly, you can reduce the cost of any legal action you need to take. Instead of using both a solicitor and barrister, you can liaise with just public access barristers and limit the need for any other professionals to work on your case.

As a result, costs can be reduced considerably. In addition to this, seeking help from direct access barristers can be a simple and straightforward process. Simply select a barrister who specialises in the relevant area of law and approach them for a quote. As well as explaining what options are available to you, your public access barrister can assist you in taking legal action, if you choose to do so.

To find out more, contact a direct access barrister today.

Photo: boundary by Nesster licensed under Creative commons 2

Contesting a will with direct access barristers

Although making a will is fairly straightforward, a significant number of people fail to do so. When someone dies without having made a will, they are said to have died intestate and the law determines how their estate is disposed of. By having a will, people can ensure that their estate is transferred to the relevant beneficiaries and they are free to dispose of their goods, property and possessions as they see fit.

In some cases, however, it may be possible for someone to contest a will and argue that they should receive some or all of the estate.

As a will is a legal document, you’ll need to legal assistance if you want to make a successful challenge. Although the law is keen to uphold the deceased’s wishes, there are some instances in which a direct access barrister will be able to help you to challenge a will.

Accessing inheritance if you’ve been left out of a will

Often, when someone gets older, their mental faculties can be affected and they may act in unusual ways. If someone makes numerous changes to their will in the months preceding their death, for example, and leaves close family members out of the document, it may be possible for them to challenge the document.

Similarly, if the deceased was receiving medical treatment which may have affected the way they drafted the will, it could be possible for a legal challenge to be made. In some cases, a will may have been made decades ago and not modified to reflect a change in family circumstances. Due to this, family members may want to take action in order to ensure an equal split of the estate.

Contact a direct access barrister

If you need help to contest a will, a public access barrister may be able to assist you. As well as providing expert legal advice and assistance, using a direct access barrister can significantly reduce the cost of taking legal action.

Furthermore, contacting a direct access barrister couldn’t be easier. Available via secure video conferencing facilities, you can liaise with your barrister from wherever you are and cut out the need for additional legal personnel.

To find out more, why not contact a public access barrister today?

Getting help from criminal barristers

When you’ve been arrested, it’s essential that you have access to legal help. Depending on the alleged offence, you could be facing a number of serious consequences. Whilst some offences carry the possibility of a prison sentence, you could also be subject to fines, ASBOs or community service.

In addition to this, the consequences of having a criminal record can be catastrophic. You may be unable to keep your current job and may find it extremely difficult to find other work, for example.

Often, when people are charged with a crime, they accept a caution in order to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Whilst this may be a viable solution, it’s important to get expert legal help from criminal barristers first.

Having a caution on your record could have an impact on your future and, with help from experienced direct access barristers, you may be able to avoid this. By seeking legal help, you can ensure that you are able to reduce the charges where possible and minimise the consequences.

Accessing legal representation with public access barristers

Although criminal law is a speciality in itself, barristers do operate in niche areas. If you’ve been charged with a traffic offence, for example, you may want to seek help from speeding barristers or drink drive barristers.

As public access barristers have a whole range of expertise, you’ll be able to find a lawyer who can provide the type of assistance you require. Whilst the matter may be resolved without the need to go to court, a criminal barrister can represent you in court if need be. This means that a public access barrister can deal with matters from start to finish and you won’t have to deal with a range of legal professionals.

What about the cost of using direct access barristers?

Although some people are eligible for Legal Aid in criminal matters, many people exceed the financial threshold and, therefore, must pay for their own legal representation. By working with direct access barristers, you can cut the cost of getting legal help and present an affordable defence.

To learn more now, why not contact our direct access criminal barristers today?

Photo: handcuffs by Keith Allison licensed under Creative commons 2

Can civil dispute barristers help with tenancy issues?

Although there are various different types of civil disputes, disagreements between tenants and landlords are amongst the most common. Whilst tenants and landlords should always have a contract in place, tenants are afforded some rights by the law as well.

In addition to this, a situation which isn’t covered by the existing contract may arise and civil dispute barristers may be needed.

Often, it’s best to resolve issues amicably, if you’re able to do so. In some instances, however, this simply isn’t possible and it may be necessary to seek legal help. If tenants want to take action because they believe a landlord is evicting them unfairly, for example, they may want to access legal representation so that they can take the matter further.

Conversely, landlords may find themselves unable to remove tenants following the end of a lease. As these matters can end up going to court, it’s usually beneficial to seek help from experienced professionals, such as civil dispute barristers.

Can a barrister help you?

When you need legal advice, it can be best to contact a barrister directly. As well as being experts in their field, public access barristers can help to reduce the cost of taking legal action. If you’re instigating legal action or defending a claim made against you, direct access barristers can provide relatively low-cost legal support.

Whilst a solicitor may be able to provide help initially, it is a barrister who is most likely to represent you in court. Rather than using two legal professionals to resolve the matter, claimants can benefit from contacting barristers directly.

Should you take the matter to court?

Often, the involvement of legal professionals means that the matter can be resolved without actually going to court. In order to reduce the cost and length of time associated with a court hearing, claimants are more willing to negotiate, providing they are assisted by experienced lawyers.

Whilst you can resort to going to court if needed, direct access barristers can help you to resolve the matter via alternative methods, if they are available. To find out more about getting help with a landlord and tenant dispute, why not contact civil dispute barristers today?

Photo: Contracts by NobMouse licensed under Creative commons 2

Protecting your assets with divorce barristers

When a couple divorce, it’s often a stressful and upsetting time. It can be made more difficult, however, if one party attempts to claim an unfair share of the matrimonial property. Unfortunately, this is often the case and, as a result, it’s important to have legal representation during divorce proceedings.

By accessing help from divorce barristers, you can ensure that you reach an appropriate settlement and that you obtain the assets and/or funds that you’re entitled to.

Selling the matrimonial home

Although one or both parties may be keen to keep possession of their home, this isn’t always possible. Once the property has been divided, it will be down to one party to try and buy the other out, if they’re able to do so.

If you’re awarded 50% of the property, for example, you should be able to stay in the home if you’re able to purchase the remaining 50% from your ex-partner. Clearly, if you’re awarded a higher percentage of the property, it should be easier for you to find the funds to buy the rest of the property.

It’s vital, therefore, that you have expert advice and assistance when you’re going through a divorce or separation. The financial arrangements which are made during this process are likely to have a significant impact on your future and you’ll need someone who can represent you appropriately.

Why should you use divorce barristers?

With limited Legal Aid available, divorce can be a costly process. Rather than using a solicitor to begin the process and then involving a barrister at a later date, you may be better off contacting public access barristers directly.

By doing so, you can access the legal help you need and reduce costs in the process. Direct access barristers ensure that they’re available to speak with clients directly so you can find out more about your legal rights and your options before you begin taking action.

Whilst no-one enjoys the process of divorce, it’s important to finalise the end of your marriage with legal assistance, or you could risk missing out on the assets you’re entitled to. To find out more contact divorce barristers today.

Photo: couple by Sole Treadmill licensed under Creative commons 2

Resolving neighbour disputes with help from direct access barristers

Unfortunately, disputes between neighbours occur all too frequently and they can have a significant impact on the people involved. While a disagreement may arise due to a fairly minor issue, it can quickly spiral out of control. As a result, people often find that neighbour disputes have a detrimental effect on their lives as a whole.

With many people keen to extend their properties, this is often a contentious issue for neighbours. Even when planning permission has been granted, disputes can arise if the actual work deviates from the plans in any way.

If neighbours assume that they have a right of way over your land, for example, you may need to take action against them. Similarly, if neighbours continue to use your property or land when you’ve asked them not to, civil dispute barristers may need to act on your behalf in order to resolve the issue.

Although many people aim to keep relations with their neighbours amicable, this is unlikely to happen if the dispute continues for months or even years. By taking action with direct access barristers, you can ensure that the issue is settled as quickly as possible.

How can civil dispute barristers help?

Civil disputes can arise in various forms and direct access barristers may be able to help. By working with an experienced lawyer, you can ensure that they have expertise in the relevant area of law and that they’re able to help manage your case.

As well as informing you of your rights and options, public access barristers can take the matter all the way to court, if needed. While there are often alternative resolutions available, you can rely on your direct access barrister to provide you with legal representation if the matter with your neighbour is referred to court.

What about the cost?

When people have a civil dispute, they sometimes seek help from a solicitor. In many cases, however, the issue is then referred to a barrister as well and this can increase the cost. One of the main advantages of using direct access barristers is the reduced cost of accessing legal representation.

By working with one legal professional, you can reduce your expenditure whilst still accessing the assistance you need. To find out more, why not contact a civil dispute barrister today?

Photo: handshake by fofie57 licensed under Creative commons 2

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