Principal Chambers is the new and innovative model of Barristers' Chambers that focuses on delivering first class client service, maximizing productivity and minimizing overheads via the efficient use of new technology.
As individual barristers we work from home but engage the services of an experienced senior clerk who personally handles our business.
Our overheads are low - 11% to our clerk who is responsible for his own office costs.
About the Clerk
Co-founder of Principal Chambers, Russell Burton, is a barrister's clerk through and through with 23 years clerking experience, the last 14 years as senior clerk. Members of the bar acquainted with Russell will know him as a hands-on type of clerk who leads by example.
Clerking Services
Russell provides the usual clerking services to members of chambers and door tenants such as diary management, fee negotiation, aged debt collection, advice and support.
His charges: 11% on net receipts
In addition, as a self-employed clerk he is able to offer his considerable expertise to barristers not connected to chambers.
As an example, his services could be particularly useful to sole practitioners, who, whilst being perfectly able to clerk themselves, may lack the confidence to agree proper fees, or perhaps do not have the infrastructure to be able to bill family graduated fees.
As Russell has his own Meridian fees management system and therefore the infrastructure in place, you can sub-contract your billing requirements to him.
Another example could be that your clerks are so overwhelmed with work that your fees are not being collected quickly. Again, you could sub-contract your aged debt to Russell.
Effective aged debt collection requires regular attention and a persistent approach.
In summary, Russell can provide the following services to barristers:
- Billing and aged debt collection (fully conversant with the family graduated fee schemes)
- General clerking services including practice development and advice
Infrastructure and IT
- Meridian Case Management system
- Outlook 2007