Barrister Connect covers a substantial range of civil and family law matters but there are some areas of law that we do not handle. It is important to be honest about this. If we cannot help you, we would rather tell you up front and direct you to the right place. This guide sets out what we do not cover and where you can get the right help instead.
Barrister Connect does not handle criminal cases. If you have been charged with an offence, are under investigation by the police or have a hearing in the magistrates' court or Crown Court relating to a criminal matter, you need a criminal law specialist.
This includes:
Where to go instead: a solicitor firm that specialises in criminal defence, or a direct access barrister who specifically handles criminal work.
We do not handle immigration matters. This is a specialist area with its own regulatory framework (the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner and the Solicitors Regulation Authority both regulate it).
This includes:
Where to go instead: an immigration solicitor or an OISC-regulated adviser. The Law Society has a search facility for immigration solicitors.
Barrister Connect operates on a private fee basis. We do not take legal aid cases. This means we cannot help if your situation requires legal aid funding.
Where to go instead: a legal aid solicitor. The Legal Aid Agency has a "find a legal aid adviser" search facility. Most criminal, some family and some immigration cases qualify for legal aid where the financial criteria are met.
While some commercial litigation work overlaps with personal injury, we do not generally take personal injury or clinical negligence cases. These are usually best handled by specialist firms with the necessary medical and accident reconstruction resources.
Where to go instead: a specialist personal injury solicitor, many of whom work on a "no win, no fee" basis.
We do not handle conveyancing (the legal process of buying and selling property). Conveyancing requires regulated conveyancers or solicitors who hold client money and conduct title work.
Where to go instead: a conveyancing solicitor or licensed conveyancer.
While some specific Court of Protection issues can be addressed through direct access, most Court of Protection work (deputyship applications, ongoing supervision of deputies) is better handled by specialist solicitors who can hold client funds.
We do not handle prison law matters (recall, categorisation, parole, prisoner discipline). This is a specialist area with its own conventions.
Where to go instead: a prison law specialist firm.
Cases involving Hague Convention matters, complex international child abduction, or jurisdictional disputes between countries usually need specialist firms with international experience and the ability to coordinate across jurisdictions.
Barrister Connect operates in England and Wales. We do not handle cases in Northern Ireland or Scotland. These jurisdictions have their own legal systems, separate professional regulation and different procedural rules.
Where to go instead: for Northern Ireland, contact the Law Society of Northern Ireland; for Scotland, contact the Law Society of Scotland or the Faculty of Advocates.
Most driving offences are criminal matters. However, some specific civil aspects (challenging speed cameras, fixed penalty notices) may be in scope. We assess these case by case.
Specific applications about deputyship powers or some property matters within Court of Protection may be in scope. Again, we assess case by case.
We handle some professional regulatory work (MPTS, NMC, GDC and similar tribunals). Other regulatory areas (Financial Conduct Authority, Solicitors Regulation Authority for solicitors) may or may not be in scope depending on the specific matter.
Some tax disputes (particularly Tax Tribunal appeals) can be handled through direct access. Complex tax planning matters or HMRC investigations may need specialist firms.
Some international commercial matters may be in scope where they involve English law. Pure foreign law matters are not.
To be clear about what we do handle:
Being clear about what we do not cover serves everyone's interests:
Specialist work needs specialist representation. A direct access barrister covering family law full-time is the right person for a family case. A criminal solicitor with police station experience is the right person for a criminal investigation.
If we cannot help you, telling you up front means you can find the right adviser without delay.
Different areas of law have different regulatory frameworks. Working within our scope means you get representation that is properly regulated and insured for the work being done.
The Law Society has a free search facility for solicitors by area of law and location.
The Bar Council maintains a directory of direct access barristers across different specialisms.
For specific areas, specialist organisations have member directories:
For some matters, free advice services are available:
If you are not certain whether your matter falls within our scope, contact us and we will tell you. Some cases have aspects within our scope and aspects outside it; we can help with what we can and recommend where to go for the rest.
There is no charge for asking. Even if we cannot help, we will try to direct you to a suitable specialist.
Barrister Connect aims to make specialist civil and family law representation accessible to people who would otherwise struggle to find it. We do that by focusing on what we are good at: direct access barrister representation in our covered areas.
Where we cannot help, we want to direct you to the right place rather than try to be all things to all people. The right help is more important than where you get it.
If the issues in this guide apply to your situation, our team can match you with a barrister who works on cases like yours every week. The enquiry is free and you will receive a clear fixed-fee quote before any work begins. Start your enquiry here.