GREAT GEORGE STREET CHAMBERS
( The Chambers of Glen Hodgetts )
Immigration Specialist Barristers
Public Access Scheme / Direct Access
Following changes to the Bar Code of Conduct, both Glen Hodgetts and David Jones are accredited with the Bar Council, to act as 'Public Access Barristers'. This means that they can provide legal services directly to private paying lay clients without the need to also instruct a solicitor. A member of the public can thus get direct and affordable access to specialist direct access immigration and asylum barristers without having to also pay a solicitor. This can potentially save considerable costs and provide a quicker, more streamlined service.
Any member of the public may now contact us directly to ascertain whether their case is suitable for direct 'public access' by simply calling Great George Street Chambers' clerk on 01179200144 or by email to:
Please note that your case may not be suitable for public access if it is particularly complex.
Public Access Immigration Barristers are also sometimes referred to as "Direct Access" Immigration Barristers.
What is public access in detail ?
You can read more detailed information about the public access scheme by clicking on the link below:-
Click here for a link to the Bar Standards Board Public Access Guidance For Lay Clients
Summary of the public access scheme
1. After contacting us with details of your situation and case we will provide a fees quotation within 48 hours.
2. If you are interested in instructing one of our barristers via public access and agree to the quotation, you will then be given further information about the public access scheme and we will discuss with you on the telephone the pros and cons of instructing a barrister through it. In order to be eligible for the scheme, we will need to make sure that it is in your best interests to instruct a barrister via public access and that you are able to undertake the administrative tasks that a solicitor would normally undertake. If you are eligible for legal aid then we will not be able to take your case on via public access unless you explicitly consent to this. If your case is particularly complex, with difficult procedural issues, it may not be appropriate to instruct a barrister via public access and we will advise you that this is the case at this point and advise you to see a specialist immigration solicitor.
3. David Jones is accredited to conduct litigation. However, Glen Hodgetts is currently not accredited to conduct litigation. This essentially means that Glen cannot serve documents on a court or tribunal that start legal proceedings or are related to the litigation. He is also not able to receive on your behalf documents from a court or tribunal relating to your litigation. In effect, you have to act "as your own solicitor" and make sure you keep safe all necessary documents relating to the litigation and keep yourself aware of any necessary deadlines. Under public access, barristers who are accredited for public access but do not have accreditation to conduct litigation will be instructed by a lay client who will act as a "litigant in person." If you need to instruct us to litigate on your behalf you will need to instruct my Mr Jones.
4. If you are eligible for public access and are happy to proceed to instruct one of our barristers using it, we will issue you with the particular barrister's client care letter which will set out the agreement between the barrister for the provision of legal services. The client care letter is a requirement of the public access scheme. It will state the work you want your barrister to undertake, what the fees that have been agreed for that work are, and how to pay. It will also summarise what public access barristers can and cannot do and will set out the obligations of both parties to the agreement. It will form the contract between you and your barrister for legal services. The client care letter will also provide details of your barrister's privacy policy and complaints procedure.
5. Once you have read your client care letter and are happy to proceed via public access, you sign, date and return the letter to your barrister to confirm your acceptance of the agreement and to confirm that you understand what public access entails.
6. On the letter's return, and when any fees agreed in the letter have been paid in accordance with the fees structures set out in it, your barrister will be able to begin the work that the agreement requires me to do.
7. From the initial quotation of fees, you can expect the process of finalisation of the client care letter to take another 2-3 days. We will let you know if there are special circumstances which mean that we cannot get the letter to you at this time.
