Historically, the Bar was a referral profession, meaning we could only accept instructions from a professional client such as a solicitor. The system was similar to the way a consultant doctor sees a patient on a GP’s referral. However, a change of the legal services market means that barrister can now accept instructions from clients directly under the Direct Access Scheme.
Our barristers can provide you with expert legal advice, help you to draft correspondence, help to draft statements from litigants and witnesses, advise you on suitable experts and draft instructions to expert witnesses, offer you advice on the next steps to be taken in proceedings and represent you in court and tribunals.
We cannot issue court documents on your behalf, contact witnesses or collect and investigate evidence, instruct an expert witness on your behalf, handle your money or correspond with the other side on your behalf.
We understand how important it is for our clients to understand the potential cost involved when instructing a barrister. Chambers provide a transparent fee structure that will always be agreed in advance, and will be set out in our client care letter which will be agreed and signed before any work commences. These will either be on a fixed fee basis or an agreed hourly rate. All fees will have VAT added.
If you have a problem which you think one of our barristers may be able to help you with then please complete contact the clerks on 01482 323264 or clerks@hullbar.co.uk
Members of Chambers are self-employed and each is regulated by the Bar Standards Board. You can find our barristers on the BSB website https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/search-a-barristers-record.html
Typical Fees
Wilberforce Barristers may charge by either fixed fees (which means that we will charge you a set amount of money for each piece of work we undertake) or on an hourly rate basis. All fees exclude VAT (where applicable). That means that it is likely that you will have to pay us VAT in addition to the fee at the current rate (presently 20%). If we charge fixed fees, these may vary depending on your needs – for example, your fees may be towards the higher end of the range if you need a more experienced barrister and/or you have a more complex case. If you have a particularly complex case, your fees may also be higher than the estimates below. If we quote a fixed fee it will only be to undertake that particular piece of work.
There are likely to be many different pieces of work involved in a case such as representation at hearings, advising in conference and writing and drafting documents. We will always quote separately for each piece of work. Below are some indicative fees;
Stage of Case Range of fixed fees (estimated)
Preliminary meeting £0 – £500
Initial conference / meeting £500 – £2000
Written advice on claim £500 – £2000
Hourly rate for assistance with drafting any Court documents £125 – £350
Preliminary / Directions hearings £500 – £2500
Preparation of case, drafting documents £500 – £2000
1 day hearing – County Court / Tribunal £1000 – £5000
First day of multi-day hearing £2,000 – £10000
Subsequent daily fee on multi-day hearings £1250 – £3500
If it is agreed to bill on an hourly rate basis hourly rates vary from £125 – £300 dependant on the seniority / expertise of the barrister who is booked. An amount of hours required will be estimated at each key stage (below).
Personal Injury Claims
Financial Disputes in Divorce
Timescales
Timescales for your case may vary depending on factors such as barrister’s availability, the complexity of your case, the need for additional documents and the other side’s approach. However, as guide, Personal Injury cases tend to have a trial within two years of a claim being made (but a straightforward case can often be settled within six months).
Financial Disputes in Divorce tend to take six to twelve months (not including any appeals).
Additional Costs
If there are any additional costs chargeable by us over and above the quoted fixed fee or the agreed hourly rate you will be made aware and these will be agreed with you before the fees are incurred. Additional costs for example may be for any administrative work, photocopying, printing and travel expenses if your case is not local to Chambers. Over and above the fees charged by us you may have to pay to engage another person to assist with your case if you require additional help and please bear in mind there will be court fees which will also be payable by you. Current court and tribunal fees can be found at Court and tribunal fees – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Your case
This document is for guidance purposes only. Should you instruct a member of Wilberforce Barristers, we will write to you to confirm specific timescales and costs relating to your individual case.
Contact Us
All information is correct as of February 2022 but these fees are estimates only and may change. For a more accurate quotation please contact the clerks on 01482 323264 or clerks@hullbar.co.uk
