Direct access family law barristers in London.
Family law barristers in London, instructed directly on Public Access. Fixed fee BSB regulated counsel for divorce, financial remedy, private children, Schedule 1 and nuptial agreements — from first conference through FDR and final hearing.
Clerk and Counsel places specialist family law barristers in London 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 London family barristers regularly attend the Central Family Court at First Avenue House, the Royal Courts of Justice, and outer London hearing centres including East London, Barnet, Bromley, Croydon, Uxbridge, Willesden, Romford and Watford. Financial remedy work is often heard in the Financial Remedies Court at the CFC or in the High Court Family Division at the RCJ.
Direct access in London is suitable for divorce, financial remedy, FDR, child arrangements, Schedule 1, nuptial agreements and interim relief. Public law children work and care proceedings are not suitable for direct access and we will recommend a legal aid solicitor where the case calls for one.
Send a short brief, the parties, the proceedings, the next hearing and the key issues. A clerk will respond with shortlisted counsel and a fixed fee in writing.
Send a briefLondon family courts and surrounding circuit.
Central Family Court, First Avenue House (High Holborn)
Public Access family law barristers regularly attending Central Family Court, First Avenue House (High Holborn) for FDA, FDR, DRA, FHDRA and final hearings.
Royal Courts of Justice — Family Division
Public Access family law barristers regularly attending Royal Courts of Justice — Family Division for FDA, FDR, DRA, FHDRA and final hearings.
East London Family Court (Bow)
Public Access family law barristers regularly attending East London Family Court (Bow) for FDA, FDR, DRA, FHDRA and final hearings.
Barnet, Bromley and Croydon Family Courts
Public Access family law barristers regularly attending Barnet, Bromley and Croydon Family Courts for FDA, FDR, DRA, FHDRA and final hearings.
Uxbridge, Willesden and Romford Family Courts
Public Access family law barristers regularly attending Uxbridge, Willesden and Romford Family Courts for FDA, FDR, DRA, FHDRA and final hearings.
Watford Family Court (Herts border)
Public Access family law barristers regularly attending Watford Family Court (Herts border) for FDA, FDR, DRA, FHDRA and final hearings.
The full private family list.
Divorce and dissolution
Financial remedy and FDR
Child arrangements orders
Schedule 1 Children Act 1989
Pre and post nuptial agreements
MPS, LSPO and interim relief
TOLATA and cohabitation claims
Specific issue and prohibited steps
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 family law in London.
How do I instruct a direct access family law barrister in London?
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Contact the Clerk and Counsel clerks with a short brief, the next hearing date and the key documents. We shortlist Public Access qualified family law barristers covering the London Family Court and the surrounding circuit, confirm fixed fees in writing, and issue the client care letter, usually within 24 to 72 hours.
What does a direct access family barrister in London cost?
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Fees are agreed up front on a fixed fee basis. A first conference and written advice typically starts in the low hundreds of pounds for a junior, with FDR and final hearing fees agreed against the complexity of the case. All fees are confirmed in the client care letter before any work begins.
Which family courts do London barristers cover?
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Our London based and circuit family law barristers regularly attend Central Family Court, First Avenue House (High Holborn), Royal Courts of Justice — Family Division, East London Family Court (Bow), Barnet, Bromley and Croydon Family Courts, Uxbridge, Willesden and Romford Family Courts, Watford Family Court (Herts border). They also accept remote hearings nationally where the court directs.
Can a Public Access barrister conduct the litigation for me?
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Only if separately authorised by the Bar Standards Board to conduct litigation. Most direct access family law barristers are not litigators, which means you remain the litigant in person on the court record while counsel advises, drafts, negotiates and represents you at hearings.