How do I instruct a member of 7 Bedford Row?

Your first step should be to contact our senior clerk, Wayne King. You can do so by filling in the form on the Contact Us page of this website or by telephoning Wayne on 020 7400 7307. He can advise you as to the most suitable barrister for your case and arrange an initial consultation. That can take place on the telephone, in chambers or elsewhere. At that consultation the barrister will discuss your legal problem with you and whether it can be effectively resolved by your using the Public Access scheme. If it is more appropriate for you to use the services of a solicitor first then the barrister will tell you so. We are happy to recommend a solicitor best able to help you.

Once a member of 7 Bedford Row has agreed to undertake work for you under the Public Access scheme there are a number of administrative steps which must be completed before any work can be done. The most important is to send you a contract which will set out the basis on which the work will be carried out. This contract, known as a "client care letter", will state:

• The work that will be undertaken
• The charges for that work
• The terms on which the work will be carried out.

Please do not send any documents (especially originals) to us before a barrister has agreed to take on your case.

What will it cost?

Our usual practice is to charge for advisory and drafting work on an hourly basis. The hourly rate applicable to your case will depend upon the level of experience of the barrister you have chosen, the complexity of your case and the amount of work involved. Typically, the hourly charge for a Queen's Counsel is between £300-£500 plus VAT. For junior barristers, the rate is between £100-£300 plus VAT.

We usually charge a fixed rate for any advocacy work and we will agree that fee with you in advance of any appearance.

We do not have "hidden charges." A rate or fee will be agreed with you before any work is carried out. In some circumstances it is not always possible to specify how long it will take to carry out the work. If so, we will tell you and will try to provide an estimate. However, whenever possible you will know in advance how many hours it will take to complete any work. We will never exceed the amount of hours specified without prior authority from you. After the agreed work has been completed, we will advise you if your case requires further work. If you want a barrister to do that additional work, and he or she is prepared to undertake it, then a new contract will be necessary.