Why is the jury STILL out on mediation?

Barristers in the following teams most often charge on the following basis for the following areas of work (in each instance please contact the clerks to check that this system of charging will be applicable for your case):

• Administrative and Public Law work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• Court of Protection work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• Clinical negligence and personal injury work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• Commercial work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• Costs and litigation funding work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• Criminal work on a private basis (where the client is not eligible for legal aid) is normally charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate fixed fee.
• Employment and discrimination work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate for advisory work. Representation in court is most often charged on the basis of a fixed fee.
• Insolvency work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• International and offshore work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• Property and estates work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• Regulatory and disciplinary work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.
• Sport law work is most often charged (or calculated) on the basis of an hourly rate.

Please note that this is guidance for the approach which is taken in most cases in the relevant area of work. It does not preclude the barrister from charging fees on an hourly rate or a fixed fee basis (as appropriate) where the circumstances of the case, the work which the barrister is required to undertake, and the nature of the instructions best suit that model. 

All fees are charged exclusive of VAT (where applicable).

What is the complaints procedure at Guildhall Chambers, and do I have any further rights of redress if I am unhappy with how my complaint has been handled?

If you have any complaints about the services provided by a barrister at Guildhall Chambers, then please read our complaints policy here.

This provides information about:

• Our complaints procedure;
• Any right which you may have to contact the Legal Ombudsman (hereafter ‘LeO’). This is an independent body which can help you if you have complained to your lawyer and are not happy with the response. The LeO’s website is https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/ and they can be contacted by telephone on 0300 555 0333. Please read the FAQs section of the LeO website for more information about how to complain to the LeO;

Chambers does not have a time limit for bringing complaints under its complaints policy to be processed within the complaints procedure at Guildhall. However the LeO does have time limits for bringing a complaint, which is ordinarily (if the complaint arises from an act or omission after 5 October 2010) six years from the act/omission which is the subject of the complaint and/or three years from when the complainant should reasonably have known that there was cause for complaint.

You can also search the decision date on the LeO’s website here.

This shows providers which received an ombudsman’s decision in the previous 12 months, and whether LeO required the provider to give the consumer a remedy.

Guildhall Chambers have premises in both London and Bristol. Please find the addresses for our offices below:

Bristol offices:

5-8 Broad Street
Bristol
BS1 2HG

23 Broad Street
Bristol
BS1 2HG

London office:

Central Court
Southampton Buildings
London
WC2A 1AL

It is advisable to contact the Bristol offices in the first instance, because Guildhall Chambers do not have a permanent staff presence at the London office (although calls will be forwarded from the London office). This does not inhibit barristers from Guildhall Chambers from representing London clients or in appearing very frequently in the courts in London.