Instructing Us

When you call or email us to instruct our barristers, our clerks are your first point of contact. The clerking teams deal with all initial enquiries, and are your link to members of Chambers. Our clerks will be able to provide you with an initial fee quotation for the work. On receipt of papers, the clerks will be able to confirm or amend the original quotation given.

We can accept written instructions in hard copy form, or by fax or email. If it is necessary for you to provide instructions orally, we request that you provide subsequent written confirmation of these instructions as soon as reasonably possible.

Our clerking team will also discuss billing arrangements with you. We are able to provide monthly or other periodic billing if you require this.

Enquiries about potential instructions

Friendly and approachable, the clerks have in-depth knowledge of our barristers and their specialisms, our areas of practice, and the court process. If you would like to discuss a potential instruction with one of our clerking team, please call them on 020 7404 5252 or send an email enquiry to clerks@4-5.co.uk .

Who can instruct a member of Chambers?

The following people may instruct barristers either on behalf of clients or on their own account, in any matter, for all types of work:

• Solicitors
• Other authorised litigators
• Parliamentary agents, patent agents, trademark agents and Notaries
• European lawyers registered with the Law Society
• Employed barristers and/or European lawyers registered with the Bar Council
• Legal Advice Centres designated by the Bar Council

In limited areas of work:

• Licensed conveyancers in matters in which they are providing conveyancing services
• Foreign lawyers for advice only

Licensed Access
We accept instructions from the many professions and bodies entitled to instruct the Bar under the ‘licensed access’ arrangements. The term 'Licensed Access' replaces the terms 'BarDIRECT' and 'Direct Professional Access'. Licensed access is a licensing system whereby organisations or individuals who are considered suitable to instruct barristers because they have expertise in particular areas of the law can apply to the Bar Council to be licensed to instruct barristers directly in those areas. The licence can cover advice or representation or both and permit licensees to instruct barristers either on their own affairs or on behalf of their clients. More information on Licensed Access, including lists of qualifying professional bodies and organisations and how you can instruct a barrister can be found on the Bar Council website.

Public Access
A number of barristers at 4/5 Gray’s Inn Square can now offer advocacy and advisory services directly to anyone without the need for a solicitor to be involved this under Bar Public Access Scheme. You can read more about who in chambers is eligible to undertake work under the Bar Public Access Scheme by clicking here.

Conditional Fees
Members of Chambers are willing to accept instructions under Conditional Fee Arrangements on a case by case basis. Please contact our clerks who will be pleased to discuss the matter and advise you as to Chambers' policy.