Who is Direct Access for?
Direct Access is open to anyone in England and Wales who needs legal support without going through a solicitor. Find out whether it is right for your situation, and what kind of help you can get.
Is Barrister Connect right for your situation?
Answer three questions and we will tell you whether Direct Access is likely to be a good fit.
Barrister Connect can likely help
Based on your answers, Direct Access is well suited to your situation. There is no charge to submit an enquiry and confirm.
Who can use Direct Access?
Direct Access is open to any individual or business in England and Wales who needs legal advice, document drafting, or representation and does not want to go through a solicitor to get it.
You do not need any prior legal knowledge. You do not need to have already started court proceedings. You can instruct a Direct Access barrister at any stage of a legal matter, whether you are trying to understand your position, preparing for a hearing, or dealing with an urgent situation.
You do not have to instruct a barrister for everything
One of the most important things to understand about Direct Access is that you do not have to instruct a barrister to handle your entire case from start to finish. Legal support can be unbundled, which means you can ask for help with one specific part of your matter only.
This is sometimes called unbundled legal services or limited scope assistance. It means that legal support does not have to be all-or-nothing. You decide what you need, when you need it, and the cost is limited to that specific piece of work.
A one-off consultation
Understand your legal position and options before deciding what to do next. No commitment to continue.
Document drafting only
A barrister drafts a specific document for you, such as a witness statement, skeleton argument, or consent order.
Representation at a court or tribunal hearing
A barrister attends and represents you at one specific hearing. This applies to any court or tribunal, whether it is an interim hearing, a case management hearing, or a final hearing.
Document review and advice
A barrister reviews documents prepared by the other side and advises how you should respond.
Last-minute representation
You have a court date approaching and need representation at short notice. Last-minute availability may be possible. Please call the team directly to discuss.
Support and advice if you are representing yourself
If you are a litigant in person, a barrister can provide remote support and guidance without taking on full representation. This includes document review, advice on your approach, and help preparing for a hearing.
You are not locked into an ongoing retainer. You are not paying for work you do not need. You can get expert specialist input exactly where it matters most.
Is Direct Access right for your situation?
Are you looking for legal aid?
Legal aid is not available through Barrister Connect. The bc-service operates on a private fixed-fee basis only. You can check whether you may be eligible for legal aid using the government's legal aid eligibility checker.
Are you looking for free legal advice?
Barrister Connect is not a free legal service. There is no charge to submit an enquiry and receive a quote, but legal advice and representation are provided on a paid fixed-fee basis. If you are looking for free advice, organisations such as Citizens Advice, ACAS (for employment matters), the Law Society's solicitor finder, or your local law centre may be able to help.
Are you involved in a criminal case?
Barrister Connect does not handle criminal law matters. However, motoring offences and Magistrates Court matters are assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you are facing a motoring prosecution, please get in touch and we can advise whether we are able to help.
Do you have an immigration matter?
Immigration cases can be complex and we can often help depending on the nature of your matter. Please get in touch or call us so we can understand your requirements and advise whether Barrister Connect is the right bc-service for you.
Are you dealing with a commercial, family, employment, or property matter?
If your situation involves any of the following, Barrister Connect is likely able to help:
- Divorce, financial remedy proceedings, or separation
- Child arrangements, residence, or contact disputes
- Non-molestation orders or occupation orders
- Unfair dismissal, discrimination, or employment tribunal claims
- Settlement agreement advice for employees
- TUPE disputes arising from business transfers
- Landlord and tenant disputes, including possession proceedings and eviction
- Tenants facing possession proceedings or housing disputes
- Boundary disputes, land ownership disputes, or property litigation
- TOLATA disputes between cohabiting partners over property
- Contested wills, probate disputes, or Inheritance Act claims
- Breach of contract, commercial disputes, or company disputes
- County Court disputes and general civil claims
- Insolvency and bankruptcy matters
- Consumer rights disputes
- Professional regulatory proceedings
- Motoring offences
What kind of help do you need?
I need advice before deciding what to do
A one-off consultation with a specialist barrister can give you a clear picture of your legal position, the options available to you, and the likely costs of different routes. This is available as a standalone bc-service with no obligation to continue.
I need something drafted
Barristers within the Barrister Connect network can draft a wide range of legal documents, including witness statements, position statements, skeleton arguments, letters before action, and consent orders. Document drafting is available as a fixed-fee service. In some circumstances a barrister may need a short telephone advice call before drafting, to ensure the document is suitable and the matter has sufficient merits to proceed.
I have a court or tribunal hearing coming up and I need representation
If you have a court hearing or tribunal hearing coming up, a barrister can be instructed to represent you. This applies whether your hearing is weeks away or days away. The team handles last-minute instructions regularly and will do their best to find availability.
I am representing myself and I need support
If you are a litigant in person, a barrister can provide remote support and advice without taking on full representation. This might include reviewing your documents, advising on your approach, drafting specific pieces, or helping you understand how to present your case at a hearing. All support is provided remotely.
I need a written legal opinion
A written opinion from a specialist barrister sets out the legal position on your matter in clear terms. This can be used to support negotiations, to understand your options before committing to proceedings, or to provide a formal legal view.
Who typically uses Barrister Connect?
Individuals going through divorce or separation
People dealing with divorce or financial remedy proceedings, often looking for a more cost-effective route than a full solicitor retainer.
Parents in child arrangements disputes
Parents needing advice, document drafting, or representation at family court hearings, including urgent cases.
Employees with employment claims
Employees who believe they have been unfairly dismissed, discriminated against, or treated unlawfully at work.
Employers responding to tribunal claims
Small and medium-sized business owners who have received a tribunal claim and need specialist advice and representation.
Private landlords
Landlords dealing with rent arrears, tenant eviction, or possession proceedings who want cost-effective, fixed-fee representation.
Tenants in possession proceedings
Tenants who need assistance responding to a possession claim or dealing with a housing dispute, including disrepair and deposit issues.
Cohabiting couples with property disputes
Unmarried couples disputing ownership or beneficial interests in a shared property under TOLATA, which is an increasingly common area of work.
People in probate or inheritance disputes
Disputes about the validity of a will, the conduct of an executor, or an Inheritance Act claim.
Business owners with commercial disputes
Directors and business owners dealing with breach of contract claims, partnership disputes, or commercial litigation including County Court claims.
People facing insolvency or bankruptcy
Individuals and businesses dealing with statutory demands, winding-up petitions, or other insolvency proceedings.
Consumers with contract or rights disputes
Individuals dealing with consumer contract disputes, invoice disputes, or claims against businesses that have failed to deliver on their obligations.
Litigants in person needing targeted support
People representing themselves in civil or family proceedings who need expert remote support at specific points in their case.
What Direct Access cannot do
There are some situations that fall outside the scope of what a Direct Access barrister can provide through Barrister Connect.
Criminal law
Criminal proceedings require a criminal defence solicitor or barrister and have specific funding and procedural rules. Motoring offences are assessed separately.
Legal aid cases
Legal aid cannot be used through Barrister Connect. You would need a solicitor with a Legal Aid Agency contract.
Legal expenses insurance
Barrister Connect cannot work with cases funded through legal expenses insurance due to advance payment terms.
No-win-no-fee arrangements
Barrister Connect operates on a private fixed-fee basis only. No-win-no-fee funding is not available through this service.
Immigration matters: Immigration cases can be complex and we can often help depending on the nature of your matter. Please get in touch and we will look into your requirements before advising whether Barrister Connect is the right route for you.
If you are unsure whether your situation falls within the scope of Direct Access, submit an enquiry. The team will confirm within one business day.
Not sure if Direct Access is right for you?
There is no charge to enquire. Submit your details and the team will confirm whether Barrister Connect can help with your situation.