Terms of business


Instructing Counsel

We aim to provide an efficient yet friendly clerking service and our clerks are always willing to advise on suitability and availability of counsel. We accept instructions by post/DX, or email as well as by fax and all briefs and instructions are acknowledged in writing by return. As a matter of course, you will be made aware by the clerk of the likelihood of chosen counsel not being available when bookings are taken. If it is anticipated that chosen counsel will be unavailable for the specified hearing you will be advised at the earliest opportunity and we will offer the broadest range of alternative options possible.

Terms of Business

Save where expressly agreed, barristers at Linenhall Chambers provide their services on the Standard Conditions of Contract for the Supply of Legal Services by Barristers to Authorised Persons 2012. A copy of those Terms can be found here.
Where counsel is instructed in a matter that proceeds with the benefit of legal aid funding the instructions are accepted on the implied condition that there is a valid legal aid certificate with sufficient scope and authority to cover counsel for the work they have been instructed to undertake.

CFA cases: Where counsel is instructed in a Personal Injury or Clinical Negligence matter that proceeds under a Conditional Fee Agreement the instructions are only accepted under the APIL/PIBA Standard Terms & Conditions for CFA’s Version 9. A copy of which can be found here: found here

Paperwork

We endeavour to turnaround paperwork within the timescales to suit our clients or where no timescale is marked on the instructions or previously agreed, we will normally complete and return all paperwork within 14 days.

Briefs

So that our barrister can properly represent our clients in court it is essential that briefs are delivered early enough to allow counsel sufficient time to prepare the case for the hearing. Therefore for a case that is estimated to last for up to 2 days we would expect the brief to be delivered at least 2 clear working days before the first day of the hearing, for a case estimated to last between 3 and 5 days we would expect the brief to be delivered at least 5 clear working days before and for case between 5 and 10 days at least 10 clear day. For longer cases the date by which we need the brief will be discussed and agreed. If a brief is not delivered within these time frames and if the previously confirmed booking in counsels diary has not been cancelled we will deem the brief to have been delivered and the brief fee incurred and payable.

Fees

Chambers has the facility to accept payment for fees quickly and securely through all major payment cards. Please contact our Chambers Manager on 01244 304218.

The practice management team can be contacted to provide estimated fees, and will quote on either an hourly rate or fixed fee (brief fee/ refresher) basis, subject to what is most appropriate for the case and cost effective for the client. Fees will be calculated by reference to the amount of time reasonably required to supply the services and a reasonable hourly rate, taking into account all the circumstances of the case. The practice management team will be able to provide you with information on what specifically is required in order to prepare a meaningful estimate and will provide one within 14 days.

Hourly rates may vary according to the seniority and experience of counsel, the complexity and urgency of the case. Where we provide a fixed price for a piece of work, we will seek not to exceed the amount we have quoted without prior client authority.

Our fees are flexible and competitive, while reflecting our high standard of advice and service. The current rate of VAT will be added to all fees (unless exemptions apply). We will always advise on suitable counsel and provide a more accurate and flexible assessment of the fees for your case.

On the acceptance of instructions counsel will review the case to assess the amount of papers to be reviewed, the complexity of the case, the need for additional information or documents and the approach being taken by the other side.

The return date for completed work will then be subject to the upcoming availability of counsel, the client(s), relevant third parties and where appropriate the next suitable date for any court hearings.

The practice management team will keep clients updated regarding expected timescales, including changes in circumstances which are outside of Chambers control.

Facilities

We offer excellent conference facilities in Chambers which include facilities for the disabled. Conferences can be arranged at solicitors’ offices, at courts and other locations for the convenience of our clients. In an addition we have the use of conference facilities in Bangor which can be arranged by appointment. We can arrange telephone conferences and have video conference facilities.

Equal Opportunities & Non-Discrimination Policy

Linenhall Chambers adheres to the Equality Code for the Bar and operates an Equal Opportunities and Non-Discrimination policy in accepting briefs and instructions from clients and in the provision of our services and in the selection, recruitment and treatment of staff, pupils and tenants. A copy of our policy can be obtain by email from our Chambers Manager hmj@lhchambers.co.uk

Data Protection

All our members are registered under the Data Protection Act.

Copyright Information

This website and its content are copyright of Linenhall Chambers.
Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following:
You may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only.
You may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material.
You may not, except with our express permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

Disclaimer

This website is maintained by 1 Stanley Place Ltd trading as Linenhall Chambers

  1. The members of Linenhall Chambers provide legal and advocacy services as independent, self-employed barristers and no entity connected with Linenhall Chambers provides any legal services. 1 Stanley Place Ltd manages the administrative, operational and support functions of Chambers and is a company incorporated in England and Wales (company number 1604876) with its registered office at 1 Stanley Place, Chester CH1 2LU.
  2. By agreement of the barristers in these Chambers, this website has been prepared for information purposes only. Any views expressed, or comments made on the law in an article, commentary or note on this website are not necessarily the opinions of any member of Chambers other than the author. This website is updated on a regular basis.
  3. The information and any commentary on the law contained on this website is provided free of charge for information purposes only. Every reasonable effort is made to make the information and commentary accurate and up to date, but no responsibility for its accuracy and correctness, or for any consequences of relying on it, is assumed by any member of Chambers. The information and commentary does not, and is not intended to, amount to legal advice to any person on a specific case or matter. You are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal advice from a lawyer about your case or matter and not to rely on the information or comments on this site.

Professional indemnity insurance

Every barrister must have professional indemnity insurance and this is provided by Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Ltd (BMIF) which can be contacted through the Managers of BMIF: 90 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4ST. Telephone: 020 7621 0405, Facsimile: 020 7283 5988.

Authorisation Scheme

We are regulated by the Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) to provide legal services in England and Wales. Chambers and barristers are governed by The 8th Edition of the Code of Conduct which is available from the Bar Standards Board website listed below. The Bar Standards Board address is Bar Standards Board, 289-293 High Holborn, London. WC1V 7HZ Telephone: 020 7611 1444. Fax: 020 7831 9217. Website address is www.barstandardsboard.org.uk

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Accreditations and awards

Linenhall Chambers and its members are regulated by the Bar Standards Board.