The mandatory rules
In 2019, the regulatory body for barristers, the Bar Standards Board, introduced mandatory rules on price, service and redress transparency for all self-employed barristers and chambers. The barristers and chambers must provide information about price, service and redress on all their websites and to consumers on request.
The mandatory rules require NE Barristers Chambers to:
- State that professional, licensed access and/or lay clients (as appropriate) may contact NE Barristers Chambers to obtain a quotation for legal services.
- Provide our contact details:
The contact details for us are Hadrian House, 84 Front Street, Chester Le Street, DH3 3BB. You will call our reception service (they do not give legal advice) they will confirm if we cover the area of law you see and you MUST leave name, phone number and email and then you will be called back (on the same day) to discuss the case and be given a fee indication.
We will be able to help you.
- State our most commonly used pricing models:
Our terms of business, including the various pricing and payment options are available on our website by clicking here:
We also set out some indicative fees and timing information on the above page.
Where you are unsure about pricing, please feel free to speak to us for an indication of the best available pricing model to suit your personal circumstances.
- State the areas of practice in which we most commonly provides legal services:
We are a “Common Law” chambers and, as such, we work in a variety of areas of law.
Our expertise pages set out the main categories of law in which we have expertise – CLICK HERE
If you have a particularly unique issue we may be able to assist you in finding the right expert for your case.
- State and provide a description of the barrister’s, chambers’ or BSB entity’s most commonly provided legal services:
Our expertise list details our most commonly provided legal services. We provide advice, support and advocacy services across a wide range of areas of legal services.
- Provide information about the factors which might influence the timescales of the barrister’s, chambers’ or BSB entity’s most commonly provided legal services:
Our terms of business set out the factors that may impact on timescales. CLICK HERE
- Display “Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board”, on the homepage of our website.
As i am a sole prcationer only my details are on the website
- Display information about the complaints procedure, any right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), how to complain to the LeO, and any time limits for making a complaint:
Our detailed complaints policy can be found here on our website:
The following is a link to the decision data on the LeO’s website.
- Link to the Barristers’ Register page on our website.
A link to the barrister register can be found at the bottom of our Terms of Business and by clicking here:
Additional transparency rules for Public Access work
There are also additional transparency rules for those undertaking Public Access work.
Dr John Brown is registered to undertake public access work an hs to abide by rules. You will find (below) a link to the Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients on the BSB’s website.
We can work on both a fixed fee or an hourly rate. Although it is more normal to agree a fixed fee for specific, identified work, this will be discussed with you in advance to reach a suitable agreement as to what is most appropriate in your specific circumstances.
The agreement will be stated in a written contract.
We do not accept payment by Credit or Debit Card. The most common payment method is BACS transfer directly into our business account. We can take bussiness cheques.
We charge £250 per hour, Where a fixed fee is agreed it will be based on how long any individual case is likely to require.
Fees will not normally include VAT, but that will be made clear to you both in advance and in the written agreement.
There will be no hidden additional costs.
Any additional costs will be set out in an agreement and included in advance.
The most likely additional cost is reasonable travel expenses (in all cases) and overnight accomodation where a court hearing is over 100 miles from chambers.