What are barristers?

Barristers are lawyers. They are members of the Bar of England and Wales and are a profession of elite legal specialists providing advocacy and advisory services.

Barristers provide legal advice, draft legal documents and appear as specialist advocates before courts and tribunals. Unlike solicitors, barristers automatically hold rights of audience in every type of Court and Tribunal in England and Wales, from the lower court, the Magistrates Court, to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court (previously called the House of Lords).

The work of barristers is advising on the law and appearing as specialist advocates before courts. Traditionally their work has come via solicitors who instruct or refer work to barristers on behalf of their clients (their client being you). Many solicitors take their client’s case to a barrister particularly where there is a need for specialist advice or advocacy.

A change in the law has meant that barristers can accept instructions direct from members of the public as individuals, businesses and companies. This means that you may seek advice and be guided through the legal process by a barrister rather than a solicitor. The choice is yours.

If it should become apparent, either at the outset or later on, that you would benefit from the services of a solicitor, we will tell you and are happy to recommend a solicitor to help you.

Barristers and their clerks provide a flexible and timely service to clients. The senior clerk at Principal Chambers can be contacted outside of normal working hours and we are used to reacting quickly to situations and providing advice and representation urgently.
 

Find out How to Instruct a Barrister or see FAQ