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Counsel of perfection

© Copyright LexisNexis 2026. All Rights Reserved.
16 August 2007 / Richard Harrison
Issue: 7286 / Categories: Opinion , Procedure & practice , Profession
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Richard Harrison suggests ways in which barristers can ensure repeat instructions from solicitors

Despite the rise of the solicitor advocate and the emergence of the advocacy department in some larger litigation firms, it remains my view that the best resource for a client engaged in the litigation process is an appropriately constituted team of solicitors and barristers. This article is not about my reasons for that view, but about how members of the Bar can ensure that they cross a solicitor’s radar more than once. It provides practical tips on how to get on with instructing solicitors.

Disclaimer time: any clerks to whose attention this is drawn and who know me will have had their barristers instructed by me or my firm on a repeat basis. Therefore those barristers will probably have passed the tests suggested.

INITIAL INSTRUCTIONS AND CONFERENCE

One of the obvious arguments for instructing counsel is specialist expertise. Another, just as important, is objectivity. However, the instruction of an external specialist should not prevent solicitor and counsel being seen by

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