Tag: direct access barristers

Instructing a direct access barrister when facing a drink driving charge

Facing a charge of drink driving is always a stressful time. The majority of those that face this charge will never have dealt with police before, let alone faced a Magistrates’ Court appearance. A conviction can change your life, so it is vital that you make the right moves when choosing someone to represent you.

Solicitor or Barrister?

The main differentiator between a solicitor and a barrister is that a solicitor is a more general lawyer with the qualifications and skills to deal with all manner of legal work. They do not specialise in any one type of advocacy, but have authorisation to appear in the lower courts. Barristers, on the other hand, are specialist advocates with the training to appear in Crown and High Courts. They are able to appear in all types of court.

Nowadays, direct access barristers are available to the public. Traditionally, there was no way to instruct a barrister yourself; you had to do so via a solicitor. Now, you can contact a barrister directly to have them take on your drink driving case and give them your instructions. This will allow you to have a conference with the barrister before your hearing, as well as for the hearing itself.

Some barristers even have the authorisation to conduct litigation, meaning they can deal with the entire drink driving case for you in addition to the court appearances. Your barrister will attend the court hearing with you if it doesn’t clash with another court case, but if they can’t they will appoint a suitable substitute.

Choosing the right barrister

The best starting point is recommendations. Friends, family or work colleagues may have had a good experience with a solicitor or barrister, and if that person can’t take on your case directly they can usually recommend someone good who will.

An online search, such as on Barristers4U, will help you to find direct access barristers who have a history and specialism in drink driving cases.

When you find a barrister you think would be good, you can contact them. Barristers4U offers free, no-obligation quotes, where you can find out how a barrister will help you and what their experience is in dealing with drink driving charges.

What counts as sexual harassment in the workplace?

An avalanche of sexual harassment accusations has found its way to the limelight recently. A multitude of individuals from politicians to A-list celebrities are at the centre of colourful sexual harassment charges and court cases. But what really counts as sexual harassment in the workplace and what can you do to stop it?

What you need to know

There is a wide range of behaviour that could be labelled as sexual harassment. According to the Equality Act of 2010, it is unlawful to harass employees on a number of grounds. These include race, age, sexual orientation and other factors.

If you make a claim, it will be handled by the Employment Tribunal. The time limits are strict and the harassment has to have taken place in the last 3 months. If you feel you have been sexually harassed, you must report it as quickly as possible for it to be valid.

Under section 26 of the Equality Act, sexual harassment is misconduct related to sex. If it has the purpose or effect of ‘engaging in unwanted conduct of a sexual nature’ or violating the victim’s dignity then it is counted as harassment.

Common scenarios

If someone has purposely tried to harass you or done something that makes you feel the effect of harassment then you may have a claim. Here are a few common scenarios that can be disputed in court.

1. Unwanted touching over or under clothes.
2. Banter resulting in you being targeted due to gender or gender preferences.
3. Unwanted sexual advances by an employee or boss.
4. Viewing of pornographic images in your presence.
5. Spreading of rumours about your sexual life.
6. Unwanted comments or sounds in your direction such as wolf-whistling or kissing sounds.

What to do?

Sexual harassment and any other kind of harassment is illegal in the workplace and should not be tolerated. If you feel like you have been harassed, then you should immediately seek out legal help. Direct access barristers are a great source of free legal advice. Send us a message and we will walk you through the next steps. Laws exist to serve everyone and we all deserve excellent legal aid.

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.

Why instruct a criminal barrister over a solicitor?

If you are facing serious allegations, including those of sexual assault, serious road traffic offences, fraud or other white collar offences, a direct access barrister might be the solution you are looking for. Normally, barristers may only be instructed by solicitors; however, direct access barristers allow you to instruct them directly, saving you time and money whilst obtaining a premium service. But how exactly could a direct access barrister help you? This post looks at some of the ways in which one of our direct access barristers could offer you a superior service to a regular lawyer.

Criminal law expert barristers

Many of our direct access barristers are criminal law and procedure experts. They have worked on some of the most complex criminal cases, and when the going gets tough, they are not afraid to fight for you. Instructing a direct access barrister over a solicitor will generally provide you with access to a professional with more experience in the courtroom and greater understanding of the case law which might help win your case.

Strategy

Criminal barristers will begin working on your case from the outset, aiming to understand as much about the circumstances surrounding the case as possible. Your barrister will then develop a high-level strategy to ensure every avenue is explored, taking advantage of every opportunity to get you the results you need. When it comes to serious criminal cases, drafting an excellent defence statement is crucial. Only a specialised criminal barrister will understand the intricacies involved in ensuring your statement works in your favour.

Insight

As a criminal barrister is specialist and experienced, they will have a full understanding of what is required in the courtroom to win your case. This includes niche case knowledge, specialist evidence requirements, and even how best to present your specific circumstances. This will include making a robust statement of mitigating circumstances and any exceptional hardship you might experience as a result of a custodial sentence.

Why choose a criminal barrister over a criminal lawyer?

Your reputation and your liberty are important to you and your family. It is essential you get the best strategy, advice and representation you can. Amongst our directory of barristers are some the most experienced criminal law case experts, determined to help each and every one of their clients keep their licence. Don’t just instruct any legal professional, get in touch to find out how we can help get you the best.

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

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?

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