The services of Barristers, Arbitrators and Mediators are usually obtained by solicitors for their clients.

However, other professionals and lay clients can sometimes obtain direct access to our members without the intervention of a solicitor for professional services, such as advice on commercial matters.

Our Barristers' Clerk can assist in any such enquires.

Barristers are bound by professional rules where clients seek direct access.

To apply to any of our Barristers for Direct Access please refer to the rules below.

74. A barrister must confine the barrister's professional work to:
(a) appearing as an advocate;
(b) preparing to appear as an advocate;
(c) negotiating for the client with the opponent to compromise the case;
(d) representing the client in a mediation;
(e) giving legal advice;
(f) advising on documents to be used in the client's affairs;
(g) acting as a referee, arbitrator or mediator; and
(h) carrying out work properly incidental to the kinds of work


75. A barrister must not, in the barrister's professional work:
(a) commence proceedings or file process in any court on behalf of the client
in the barrister's name;
(b) serve any process of any court;
(c) make any demand, by letter or otherwise, on behalf of the client in the
barrister's name, except for the purposes of work under Rule 74(c) and
(d); and
(d) conduct correspondence on behalf of the client in the barrister's name or
deal on behalf of the client with any other person, unless:
(i) the correspondence is to seek information from a potential witness;
or
(ii) the dealing is a conference with a potential witness; or
(iii) it is for the purposes of work


Disclosure to direct access client
80. A barrister who proposes to accept instructions directly from a person who is not
a solicitor or a professional acting as such must inform the prospective client in
writing of:
(a) the effect of Rules 74 and 75;
(b) the fact that circumstances may require the client to retain an instructing
solicitor at short notice, and possibly during the case;
(c) any other disadvantage which the barrister believes on reasonable grounds
may, as a real possibility, be suffered by the client if the client does not
retain an instructing solicitor; and
(d) the relative capacity of the barrister in performing barristers' work to
supply the requested facilities or services to the client compared to the
capacity of the barrister together with an instructing solicitor to supply
them; and
(e) a fair description of the advocacy experience of the barrister.