Barristers are branching out by setting up fixed-price consumer businesses.
Criminal practitioner Oliver Cook and family practitioner Rachel Temple, have launched www.advisemebarrister.com, a public-access service offering legal advice direct to consumers for a fixed fee. For £150, clients will be advised by a network of specialist barristers on whether their case is worth pursuing and how they should proceed.
Cook says: “We want to break the public perception of lawyers as money-grabbing fat cats by offering independent advice no matter whether thaT means no litigation and no further fees.”
Earlier last month, Riverview Law, which combines Riverview Chambers and law firm Riverview Solicitors, launched a fixed-price, barrister-led divorce servicefor couples with assets in excess of £500,000. Riverview Law launched in February.
Members of the public have been able to directly instruct barristers since July 2004, after amendments were made to the Bar Code of Conduct.
