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. 

Do you need access to criminal barristers?

If you find yourself charged with a crime, you may need access to specialist legal help. Before being interviewed by the police, you should be offered the opportunity to liaise with a solicitor. Following this, however, you’ll need to arrange your own legal representation.

Although some people are able to access Legal Aid to help fund representation for criminal matters, a significant number of people don’t qualify for this type of assistance. Despite this, costly solicitor’s fees may mean that they’re unable to access the help they need.

Due to the seriousness of a criminal charge, it’s vital that you get the advice and representation you need if you’ve been accused of acting unlawfully. A criminal conviction could affect every part of your life so you’ll want to ensure that the matter is handled properly.

Using direct access barristers

Generally, people assume that you have to contact a solicitor before a barrister is instructed but this isn’t true at all. Using direct access barristers can enable you to access the legal expertise you require but can reduce the cost involved.

Rather than paying a solicitor and a barrister, for example, you can contact a criminal barrister directly and obtain the help you need. Whilst the CPS may have decided to prosecute you, a barrister could be able to help you get the charges dropped or reduced. Alternatively, if the matter goes to trial, a criminal barrister can defend you in court and will try to ensure you’re acquitted of all charges.

Getting legal advice before you go to court

Although any area of law can be complex, criminal law can be particularly complicated so it’s important to liaise with an experienced criminal barrister before attending court hearings. When working with a public access barrister, you can speak with him or her directly and determine how the situation will proceed.

You can even contact a range of direct access barristers to find out more about the help they can offer. In addition to this, a public access criminal barrister will be able to provide you with a quote before undertaking any work.

To access legal help today, why not get in touch with a direct access barrister?