Tag: legal advice

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

When do you need family barristers?

Unfortunately, personal relationships can sometimes end acrimoniously and it may be necessary to seek legal support in order to resolve the issue. When a marriage or civil partnership breaks down, for example, specialist divorce barristers may be needed. As well as helping to dissolve the union, divorce barristers can help to ensure that matrimonial or joint property is split fairly.

Whilst any type of divorce can be complicated and upsetting, the issue may be more complex if there are children involved. In such cases, the parties may wish to use family barristers so that issues of custody can be resolved. In addition to this, parties may wish to access legal advice so that they are able to access an appropriate amount of child maintenance from their ex-partner.

Getting legal help during a divorce

Although the law aims to ensure that parties can end a marriage or civil partnership fairly, this can be a difficult process. Whilst the law can seem complicated, people are also dealing with a traumatic period in their lives and may feel somewhat vulnerable.

Due to this, it’s vital that people have access to the appropriate legal help. Whilst it may be tempting to concede your legal rights in order to resolve the matter more quickly, you could regret this in the long-term.

By working with direct access barristers, you can ensure that your divorce or family matter is dealt with appropriately and resolved permanently. Although many people worry about the cost of seeking legal advice, using public access barristers can help to ensure that you’re able to access the help you need on a cost-effective basis.

Low cost legal representation from family barristers

Traditionally, people normally consult a solicitor before instructing a barrister to represent them as well. Whilst this can work, it can also be unnecessarily costly. Rather than using two legal professionals, you can access the help you need from public access barristers directly. This enables you to get professional legal help without paying more than you need to.

With barristers able to provide a quote prior to carrying out any work, it’s easy to find out just how much legal advice, assistance and representation is likely to cost. To learn more, why not contact a direct access barrister today?

Save Money And Use A Barrister To Avoid A Driving Ban Or Disqualification

Due to recent changes in the law you can now go directly to a barrister for legal advice or representation therefore saving you hundreds of pounds in solicitor fees. Our barristers can provide you a free no obligation quote for any potential driving ban or disqualification which can be a fixed fee or hourly rate. This all depends on your individual circumstances and you can request this because we’ve access to over a 1000 barristers in over 200 chambers in England and Wales.

Speeding offences are the most common road traffic offence in the UK, with around 55,000 motorists summoned to court for speeding offences every year. If you wish to contest a speeding ticket you cannot simply use the excuse “I didn’t realise I was speeding” as your defence because any barrister won’t even consider contesting this in court. Our barristers are aware of valid grounds of contesting a speeding ticket and we can challenge the accuracy of the speed camera as one factor of the case.

Another common offence is careless and dangerous driving where the police are often to quick to form an opinion without giving full consideration to all the evidence. Many of our clients have gone on to win these cases often with the Crown Prosecution Service dropping the charges before the case has even begun.

The next common case is failure to identify the driver and just because you’ve been charged with this doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve done anything wrong. Because there could be insufficient information in the date, time and location of the alleged traffic offence. All information should be precise and missing information can result in the prosecution failing.

Another very common motoring offence is a totting-up disqualification. Once you’ve reached 12 points on your driving licence the court will immediately impose a driving ban for a minimum of 6 months. If you are found in this unfortunate situation then you need to try and convince the magistrates not to disqualify you from driving. The only reason that can be used is if evidence of “Exceptional Hardship” is presented to the court. Our expert barristers can help you work through a list of reasons to present to the judge including how you need your licence for work, if you were to lose your job if you lost your licence, if other employees depend on you, number of years driving etc.

Mobile phone offences have increased dramatically over the last 10 years with the influx of mobile phones. This includes using the phone whilst driving either speaking or texting. But mobile offences can be a little confusing because were you actually driving at the time or was you stationary, were you actually on a public road, can the police actually prove you were using the phone and lastly was the phone being using hands-free.

One of the most serious motoring offences is driving without insurance. But there are some loopholes here our barristers can help you with in your defence. These include vehicle ownership, fleet insurance or motor trader policy, accidental (insurer cancelled the policy) and misled i.e. confusing policy wording.

Call us today for expert legal advice and a free no obligation quote to see if you can challenge your motoring offence and let Barristers 4U find the right legal representation for you.

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?

Never Automatically Pay Your Parking Fines!

If you’ve ever received a car parking fine in a private car park you know how frustrating this feels and you wish there was something you could do about is. Well there is actually a few things you can do because most of these fines are often unenforceable.

If the ticket is from the police or local council always pay it. But if its from a private company never pay it automatically and always challenge it.

If you were doing any of the following then we recommend that you should immediately pay because these wouldn’t be valid reasons to content a parking fine;

  • I was going to get change.
  • Its on the dashboard with all my other parking tickets.
  • Only one wheel is out of the bay.
  • I only parked on the pavement because there was no other spaces.
  • I thought parking was free on bank holidays.
  • I paid straight after getting the ticket.
  • I parked in a bus stop and not the yellow line

If you have a different reason than the above reasons then you probably got grounds to content the parking fine. So you should always do the following in this situation.

Gather all evidence by immediately take photos, because a photo of your ticket on your windscreen when you’re only 5 minutes late is very unfair. Also take photos of any unclear signs or bay markings plus anything else that might be relevant.

Keep all correspondence from the private company and receipts for example like if your car had broken down and the garage repair bills. Not to mention any contact details of any witnesses.

There is no point arguing with the car parking attendant because it might only get you in more trouble. So simply just leave and then try to explain yourself with all the evidence in writing.

If you feel that you’re getting no where and the fine has risen then seek legal help by using a barrister. You can now go to a barrister direct for legal advice and we at Barristers 4U will provide you with a free no obligation quote to help you with your parking fine.

 

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?