Direct and Licensed Access

Direct Access

Clients (including members of the public) can gain direct access to the expertise of barristers at 5 Essex Court. This can be done either through the Licensed Access or Public Access schemes.

Licensed Access

Licensed access is a licensing system whereby organisations or individuals who are 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.

Members of chambers are happy to accept licensed access instructions and the clerking team are happy to advise on the most suitable counsel for your needs.

Public Access

This scheme enables members of the public and companies to instruct barristers directly on many civil matters.

Under the public access scheme the client takes responsibility for most of the preliminary work normally completed by a solicitor.

In order to accept public access work counsel are specially trained and there are certain aspects barristers cannot assist on.

Counsel at 5 Essex Court who undertake public access work are:

• Victoria von Wachter
• Richard Oulton
• James Arnold
• Charles Apthorp
• Melvyn Harris
• Mark Thomas