Mountford Chambers delivers a nationwide and international service to clients, who are assured quality advice, advocacy and representation at all levels.
Mountford Chambers delivers a nationwide and international service to clients, who are assured quality advice, advocacy and representation at all levels.
Members of Mountford Chambers accept instructions from solicitors, under licensed access from professional bodies and via direct professional access from the lay client.
Most members of Chambers accept instructions in which a legal aid certificate has been granted. Fees are remunerated under the advocates graduated fee system. Individual members reserve the right as to whether or not they accept work that is publicly funded. Legally aided instructions for counsel can only be received via a qualified instructing solicitor and are booked in via the clerks room.
Private fees are agreed on a case by case and individual basis for members of Chambers in conjunction with the clerks. There are various factors which will account for the calculation of private fees including type of matter, seniority of counsel, time estimate of the case, paperwork involved and the location of the court or hearing.
Fees can be quoted on a brief fee/refresher basis, on an all-inclusive fixed fee basis, or, via an hourly rate. Again, this can vary depending on the type of instruction to counsel (advisory, trial, or stand-alone hearing).
Fee quotes can be obtained via the clerks’ room and we aim to respond to all enquiries of this nature as soon as possible and in any event within 5 working days.
The time it takes to resolve your case may depend on various factors such as court availability to list the matter, service of evidence, counsel’s professional commitments and intervening third parties. Time limits for work to be conducted by counsel can be agreed upon receipt of instructions.
All privately funded instructions are accepted on the Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services by Barristers to Authorised Persons 2012, a copy of which may be found here.
Some clients may be in receipt of funding via an insurance provider. This includes individuals who benefit from a directors and officers policy, motoring policy or household policy. Members of chambers can accommodate insurer-funded clients and will provide quotes for work as set out above in the private fees section.
Some clients may be in receipt of legal assistance from their professional body or union. Members of chambers can accept these instructions in line with any pre agreed rates as set out by your funder and in line with any pre set fee agreement to which chambers has signed up.
All members of Chambers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board.
You can search the Barristers’ Register on the Bar Standards Board website. This is an online register which shows whether a barrister has a current practising certificate and whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings. It is available here. Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 or by email.
All practising barristers in Mountford Chambers maintain professional liability insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund.
If you are a member of the public, the Bar Standards Board’s Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients is available via this link. This will help you to understand how the Public Access scheme works, and explains how you may be able to use it to instruct barristers directly.
