Professional Client & Licensed Access
Instructions are accepted from solicitors (including those in-house with specific Industries) under Professional Client Access and, under Licensed Access, accountants (Chartered and Certified) and members of other authorised professions including members of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. The term 'Licensed Access' replaces the terms 'BarDIRECT' and 'Direct Professional Access'. Generally speaking, those who enjoyed rights under Direct Professional Access have similar and more often even greater rights under Licensed Access.
Please do not hesitate to contact the clerks for further guidance.
Professional Client Access
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
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 importantly, under Licensed Access, license holders are able to instruct a barrister on an appeal in a tax matter to the High Court and Court of Appeal, where the licensee conducted the case (either representing the clients themselves or instructing a barrister) before General Commissioners’ and Special Commissioners’ hearings or VAT Tribunals. The scheme does not yet extend to the House of Lords.
You may view the Licensed Access Terms of Work at the the Bar Standards Board website by clicking here.
For further information see the Bar Council’s website.