Direct access child arrangements barristers in Eastleigh.
Child arrangements barristers in Eastleigh and across South Hampshire, instructed directly on Public Access. Section 8 Children Act applications, FHDRA, fact finding, PD12J domestic abuse hearings, relocation and enforcement — written fixed fees.
Clerk and Counsel places specialist child arrangements barristers in Eastleigh on a Public Access basis, instructed directly by the client without a solicitor, on a written fixed fee. Every barrister we place is regulated by the Bar Standards Board and carries professional indemnity insurance.
Our Eastleigh child arrangements barristers regularly attend the Southampton Combined Court Centre, the Portsmouth Combined Court Centre and the Winchester Combined Court Centre, with Basingstoke, Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight also on circuit. Most directions hearings are listed by CVP.
The work covers Child Arrangements Orders under Section 8 of the Children Act 1989, covering live with, spend time with and indirect contact, plus specific issue and prohibited steps orders. Direct access counsel for FHDRA, DRA, fact finding and final hearings, including allegations of domestic abuse under Practice Direction 12J, relocation (internal and external), parental alienation and enforcement.
Send a short brief, the parties, the proceedings, the next hearing date and the key issues. A clerk will respond with shortlisted counsel and a fixed fee in writing.
Send a briefEastleigh family courts and the surrounding circuit.
Southampton Combined Court Centre
Public Access child arrangements barristers regularly attending Southampton Combined Court Centre for directions, FDR, fact finding and final hearings.
Portsmouth Combined Court Centre
Public Access child arrangements barristers regularly attending Portsmouth Combined Court Centre for directions, FDR, fact finding and final hearings.
Winchester Combined Court Centre
Public Access child arrangements barristers regularly attending Winchester Combined Court Centre for directions, FDR, fact finding and final hearings.
Basingstoke County and Family Court
Public Access child arrangements barristers regularly attending Basingstoke County and Family Court for directions, FDR, fact finding and final hearings.
Isle of Wight Combined Court, Newport
Public Access child arrangements barristers regularly attending Isle of Wight Combined Court, Newport for directions, FDR, fact finding and final hearings.
Bournemouth and Poole County and Family Court
Public Access child arrangements barristers regularly attending Bournemouth and Poole County and Family Court for directions, FDR, fact finding and final hearings.
Child Arrangements work we cover in Eastleigh.
Child Arrangements Orders (live with / spend time with)
Specific Issue and Prohibited Steps Orders
FHDRA, DRA and fact finding hearings
PD12J domestic abuse fact finds
Internal and external relocation
Parental alienation
Enforcement and variation
Special Guardianship and Section 91(14) orders
The main differences at a glance.
Direct access (Public Access) lets you instruct a barrister without a solicitor in the middle. The traditional model uses a solicitor to manage the file and instruct counsel. Both are regulated and both have their place. The table below sets out the practical differences for a typical private client matter.
| Direct access barrister | Solicitor instructed barrister | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you instruct | The barrister directly, through the clerks. | A solicitor, who then instructs a barrister on your behalf. |
| Professionals you pay | One: the barrister. | Two: the solicitor and the barrister. |
| Fee structure | Fixed fee, agreed in writing before any work begins. | Solicitor on hourly rates, barrister on brief fee. Costs build over time. |
| Typical overall cost | Lower. One specialist, one fee per piece of work. | Higher. Two firms, two sets of overheads, hourly billing on the file. |
| Time to instruct | 24 to 72 hours from brief to client care letter. | One to three weeks for file opening, AML checks and counsel selection. |
| Who runs the file day to day | You do, as litigant in person. The barrister advises and represents. | The solicitor manages the file, correspondence and court filings. |
| Court filings and correspondence | You file documents and deal with the court office. Counsel tells you what to file and when. | The solicitor files documents and corresponds with the court and other side. |
| Advice, drafting and advocacy | Done by the barrister you instruct. | Drafting often shared between solicitor and barrister. Advocacy by counsel. |
| Best suited to | Defined pieces of work: advice, drafting, hearings, negotiation. | Heavy disclosure, safeguarding, complex multi party litigation and ongoing case management. |
| Regulation | Bar Standards Board. Counsel carries professional indemnity insurance. | Solicitors Regulation Authority and Bar Standards Board. |
If the case is unsuitable for direct access, for example public law children work or matters needing heavy ongoing case management, the clerks will say so up front and point you to a solicitor.
Direct access child arrangements barristers in Eastleigh.
How do I instruct a direct access child arrangements barrister in Eastleigh?
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Send the clerks a short brief — the parties, the proceedings, the next hearing date and the key issues — and any orders or statements already on file. We shortlist Public Access qualified child arrangements barristers covering the Eastleigh family courts, confirm a written fixed fee and issue the client care letter, usually inside 24 to 72 hours.
What does a child arrangements barrister in Eastleigh cost on direct access?
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Fees are agreed up front on a fixed fee basis. A first conference and written advice on a child arrangements matter typically starts in the low hundreds of pounds for a junior, with FDR, fact finding and final hearing fees scaled to complexity and reading. All fees are confirmed in writing in the client care letter before any work begins.
Which courts cover child arrangements cases for clients in Eastleigh?
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Child Arrangements cases for Eastleigh clients are typically listed at Southampton Combined Court Centre, Portsmouth Combined Court Centre, Winchester Combined Court Centre, Basingstoke County and Family Court, Isle of Wight Combined Court, Newport, Bournemouth and Poole County and Family Court. Our counsel attend those courts in person and, where the court directs, by CVP or Teams. Remote hearings are common for short directions and FDA listings.
Is direct access suitable for child arrangements work?
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Yes, for private child arrangements matters between adults or between parents. Public law children work, care proceedings and cases involving the local authority are not suitable for Public Access; we will recommend a legal aid solicitor instead where appropriate.