Tag: barrister

How can a barrister help me with a settlement agreement?

If you are an employer or employee that is party to a workplace dispute, you might be considering instructing a barrister to advise you on a settlement agreement.

Why would an employer offer a settlement agreement?

Employers might offer a settlement agreement to bring an employment dispute to an end. If you are an employer that is concerned about an employee bringing a claim against you at an employment tribunal, a settlement agreement can be a useful way of ensuring they do not. Settlement agreements are legally binding and prevent the employee bringing a claim for disputes or conduct outlined in the agreement.

Having a watertight settlement agreement in place can protect the reputation of your business and also save the additional time and cost that you could incur if you were to go to an employment tribunal. It is essential to get expert legal advice to ensure your business is adequately protected from potential employee claims, and an expert employment barrister is the most qualified to assist you.

What should an employee look for in a settlement agreement?

If you have been offered a settlement agreement by your employer, you do not have to accept the agreement right away. In fact, it is actually a legal requirement that you have had independent legal advice with regards to the settlement agreement otherwise it will not become legally binding.Often, employers will offer to pay the legal expenses associated with seeking legal advice on a settlement agreement.

Your barrister will seek to get you the best deal possible, including a monetary settlement, a good reference, a preferable termination date if your contract is to come to an end, and any other benefits you believe you are entitled to. The financial amount you might expect to receive should be in line with: what an employment tribunal would be likely to award you if you were to bring a case before it, length of service, your position, the difficulty of getting a new role and the length of time you can expect to be out of employment, along with other factors which might affect your overall financial position.

Settlement agreements can be a useful tool for both employees and employers, and expert legal advice is essential in getting the most out of a settlement agreement. To discuss how our barristers might help you get the most out of a settlement agreement, contact our direct access barristers now.

How much could a barrister help me claim for a motorcycle accident?

If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident that was at least partially the fault of someone else, you might be wondering whether you are entitled to compensation and how much you are able to claim. This post looks at how your barrister and the court will value your claim, in order to give you an idea of how much compensation you might be entitled to for your injury.

Calculation of compensation

Most personal injury cases do not proceed to court and are settled between the parties for a fair amount of compensation. Your lawyer will look to value your claim in line with what would be awarded to you by a court, and seek to recover this amount from the other party’s insurers.

In order to make a proper evaluation, your lawyer will need to obtain information from you, as well as all of your medical reports and notes. Valuing motorcycle injury compensation can be challenging, but the right legal professional will fully consider the points below in order to get the maximum amount of compensation you are entitled to.

Factors that are considered

How severe was your injury?

The extent of your injuries will have an effect on how much you could be entitled to. The injuries sustained from motorcycle accidents can vary substantially, as can the amount of compensation you could be awarded.

Minor fractures attract around £1000, whereas compensation for the most serious injuries, including paraplegia, can attract awards of up to £350,000. When making your claim, your lawyer will obtain an expert medical opinion on how your injuries might impact your life, in order to make an accurate assessment of how much compensation you are entitled to.

How have you suffered loss?

The court will also award compensation for all of the ways in which you have suffered loss financially. This includes loss of earnings and loss of future earnings. If your injuries will affect your capacity to earn in the future, your lawyer will calculate how much this could be worth. In order to do this, your lawyer will consider how old you are, your line of work and your capacity to carry out another job.

Obtaining a quote from one of our direct access barristers is completely free, so contact us at Barristers 4 U today to find out how we can help you claim compensation for your motorcycle injuries.

Hit by an uninsured driver? Here’s why you need to get a barrister

It is bad enough being in a car accident, but when it isn’t your fault and the other party is also uninsured then this is the worst-case scenario. Believe it or not, in this case you can often be left with nothing in terms of compensation for your accident, the damages and any injuries, even though this should be covered by your own insurance. Here we explore why you might need to seek the help of direct access barristers if an uninsured driver hits you.

Insurance companies

Insurance companies are in the business to make money and they won’t want to pay out for damage caused by an uninsured driver. In their eyes, this is not the responsibility of your insurance policy. The insurance company will often seek to pass the onus on to you to prosecute the driver, but in most cases, such prosecutions lead nowhere due to a lack of assets and capital on the part of the offender.

How can a barrister help?

When you contact your insurance company you want to be sure that you present the best case possible immediately. If you fail to give the details in the best form at first, this can often hinder your case at a later stage. A barrister will be able to assist you in the best outlining of the incident and will be able to guide you through the legal loopholes of your insurance document too. Most importantly, the barrister will be able to help you understand your rights and will be able to set these out clearly for the insurance company.

The power of a barrister

While an insurance company will try to wiggle out of paying for damage caused by an uninsured driver, they will not break the law. Having a barrister on side is invaluable for this because they can clearly set out the requirements and present them to the insurance company. In the vast majority of cases, an insurance company will pay out as soon as they receive a legal letter, simply because the losses in a court case will be greater to them.

If you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver then you should contact public access barristers right away. Get the best advice and save yourself from losing out on the claim you deserve.

How video conferencing can help you find the best barrister

There are a whole host of different reasons why you might be needing to call on the services of a qualified, accredited barrister. From divorce barristers to civil dispute barristers and employment law barristers, hiring a top-class professional to fight your corner is key. But what if the barrister you feel is perfect to use is at the other end of the country?

With video conferencing technology such as Skype, this is no longer a problem. Here are a few reasons why this technology can mean using the barrister you want, rather than the closest:

Removes any location based problems

In the past, if you wanted to use a barrister that was based at the opposite end of the country to you then it would be most inconvenient. It would involve long trips in person whenever any meetings were called for that would be extremely time-consuming and costly.

With video conferencing, this is no longer the case. Technology such as Skype is freely available to most now and means you can use your tablet, mobile phone or laptop to stay in touch with your barrister remotely, wherever you may be located.

Flexibility

Another great bonus of video conferencing is that it gives you a real flexibility when instructing a barrister to act on your behalf, especially if the dispute or court case is prolonged. By using video conferencing to keep in contact with them, you have the flexibility to go about your normal life. If you travel around the country each week with work or have a two-week holiday to go on then staying in touch in this way makes it simple.

Regular meetings

Even if you are based close to the barrister you will be using, face to face meetings in person can be tricky to arrange on a regular basis. Fitting a meeting in during the 20 minutes you are free in-between other work pressures is much more possible when you use video conferencing to do it and avoids having to travel to the barrister’s office. This in turn will mean you stay in touch more regularly with your barrister in some cases.

As you can see, video conferencing can be a superb way to keep in touch with a barrister for many people. Here at Barristers4U, we have a selection of 1,000+ qualified barristers in England and Wales and can help arrange secure video conference meetings with the one you select. All the barristers we list offer a free quote and superb value for money.

Take action on sexual harassment with direct access barristers

Sexual harassment in Hollywood has recently hit the headlines, but statistics released by Opinium Research show that one in five women in the UK also have been sexually harassed in the workplace.

Unfortunately, this demonstrates that workplace sexual harassment is still a problem and not just in Hollywood. In fact, it’s not unlikely that you or someone you know has been affected, despite there being laws in place to protect workers like you.

Sexual harassment includes any type of unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature. This can be verbal, such as remarks about your body or appearance, non-verbal, for example staring at your body or sending texts of a sexual or physical nature, including physical contact of any kind.

If you have been a victim of sexual harassment, your first steps will usually be to speak to HR or complain to your employer to try and resolve the issue. If necessary, you can even take action through an industrial tribunal. However, if the tribunal is unsuccessful you may still want to seek specialist legal advice.

Did you know that you can contact a barrister directly for expert legal advice or representation for your case? Public access barristers are experts in the law and how it works and can advise you on your legal position, draft legal documents and even use their skills to represent you in a court tribunal or hearing.

Instructing a barrister directly can save you hundreds to thousands of pounds, whilst also ensuring you receive high-quality and experienced legal support. Barristers4U has access to 1000+ accredited barristers throughout England and Wales offering expert legal advice and representation.

Our video-conferencing facilities (such as Skype) mean you can speak to your barrister confidentially, no matter where you live. Obtaining a quote is free with no obligation, so you can compare quotes and choose the right expert for you. You only pay if you decide you’d like to instruct the barrister directly.

Sexual harassment in the workplace is never acceptable so if you have been affected by this behaviour, contact Barristers4U today for information and advice.

Photo: Nails by Alexandra E Rust licensed under Creative commons 2

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

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