How To Instruct A Barrister

Barristers at Atkin Chambers act for a wide range of clients, including multi-national firms and companies, government bodies and other institutions. Much of the work has an international element such as overseas clients international projects.

Members accept instructions from:

• Solicitors, other authorised litigators, employed barristers and legal advice centres in England & Wales.
• European lawyers registered with The Law Society and qualified lawyers from other jurisdictions.
• Licensed professionals in the UK under the Licensed Access scheme.
• Members of the public, individuals from other jurisdictions and companies under the Public Access scheme.

Under the licensed access scheme, members of Atkin Chambers can accept instructions from professional individuals and organisations licensed by The Bar Council.

For further information on the scheme, and a list of licensees, please view The Bar Council website.

Some members of Atkin Chambers are able, in appropriate cases, to receive instructions under the public access scheme which enable members of the public to instruct a barrister directly. The clerks are trained in managing public access matters and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

For further information please view the Bar Standards Board Public Access Guidance for Clients.

Atkin Chambers has a “worldwide footprint in construction law” (The Legal 500). Members are involved in projects located across the globe and accept instructions from a wide variety of jurisdictions. They receive instructions from overseas lawyers on behalf of their clients as well as receiving instructions directly from those clients. The international practice rules allow foreign lawyers and clients to instruct barristers directly either:

1. where the work relates to matters or proceedings essentially arising or taking place or contemplated outside of England and Wales, and is to be substantially performed outside England and Wales, or;
2. where the lay client carries on business or usually resides outside England and Wales provided that (i) the instructions emanate from outside England and Wales and (ii) the work does not involve providing advocacy services in England and Wales.

For further details please view the Bar Council’s website for information for international clients which also includes a guide to “Barristers in the International Legal Market”. Click here for further information.

Atkin Chambers is committed to making reasonable adjustments in order to reduce disadvantage for disabled people receiving legal services.

Please click here to see Atkin Chambers’ Reasonable Adjustments Policy for further information.

If you would like to request reasonable adjustments, please speak to a member of the practice management team who will be happy to assist.