Public access has revolutionised the work of a barrister. Before the introduction of public access it was generally necessary to engage the services of a solicitor before a barrister could be instructed.

Now, under the Public Access scheme, it is possible for a member of the public or a corporate client to instruct a barrister directly without going to the additional expense of engaging a solicitor as well.

In the past a barrister dealt directly with a solicitor. Now, with the advent of public access, a barrister's direct client may be a member of the public or a corporate client.

We recognise the potential savings to clients under the public access scheme. However it is our intention only to undertake public access work where the extra charges of a solicitor may safely be avoided. We continue to work in tandem with solicitors when the client needs one on board.

What can we do? At 36 Bedford Row we provide help before as well as after any dispute. We can draft contracts, standard terms and conditions, partnership deeds, share agreements and other documents for all business purposes.

We are also able to provide a litigation risk analysis by auditing your existing legal documents and workplace schemes and giving advice as to how we think they could be improved. In the long term this could be money well spent.

Once a dispute arises we are able to provide all the legal services traditionally expected of a barrister: advice, pleadings, settling witness statements, drafting application notices and, of course, advocacy.

What can’t we do? There are limitations on what we are permitted to do under the public access rules by our professional body. These limitations are set out in more detail below. One such limitation is that we are unable to undertake the regular management of a client’s affairs. That is generally the proper work of solicitors.

Barristers within Chambers have experience of litigation at all levels within the jurisdiction, whether in a local County Court or in the Supreme Court. Some barristers have overseas experience. Many of our barristers have experience representing clients at mediation and arbitration. Some of our barristers are also qualified mediators and arbitrators.

We are one of the largest Chambers in the country with specialisation in the following broad areas of work: criminal, family, commercial, employment, agricultural services, public law, property, planning and environment, professional negligence and personal injury.

You are likely to find a barrister specialising in the area of law that is the subject matter of your dispute. Please telephone the clerks in Chambers or log on to the Chambers web site at www.36bedfordrow.co.uk for more detail about the areas of specialisation within Chambers. If you have any questions or would like some further information, please telephone the clerks in Chambers.

Relevant barristers

Richard Wilson QC
William Harbage QC
Frances Mary Oldham QC
Christopher Donnellan QC
Jonathan Kirk QC
David Altaras
David Lee
Jamie De Burgos
Sam Mainds
Gillian Temple-Bone
Mercy Akman
Jacqueline Matthews-Stroud
Joanne Ecob
Peter Dean
Richard O'Dair
Andrew Howarth
Adrienne Lucking
Mary Prior
Andrew Copeland
Sarah Gaunt
Stuart Alford
Rebecca Herbert
John Lloyd–Jones
Felicity Gerry
Andrzej Bojarski
Jonathan Spicer
Nick Blake
Jonathon Rushton
Steven Evans
Catarina Sjölin
Hannah Markham
Simon Harding
Penelope Wood
Adam Pearson
Allison Summers
Caroline Bray
Clare Meredith
Jessica Franses
Geoffrey Sullivan
Nadia Silver
Daniel McDowell
Cameron Crowe
Miriam Carrion Benitez
Christopher Carr
Michael Rudd
John Small
Paul Prior
Joanna O'Connell
Kate Tompkins
Claire Howell