Instructing Us

The barristers at Ten Old Square accept instructions from solicitors, lawyers and law firms under the Bar Council’s approved Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Services by Barristers to Authorised Persons 2020 (“Standard Contractual Terms 2020”).

The regular standard contractual terms do not apply in circumstances:

• Where the lay client is to be a party to the contract, unless the lay client is the Authorised Person (i.e. the solicitor); or
• In a conditional fees agreement (“CFA”) unless the CFA specifically provides for the Standard Contractual Terms 2020 to apply; or
• For publicly funded matters where the barrister is paid direct by the Legal Aid Agency

Alternative Contractual Arrangements

The barristers at Ten Old Square are also prepared to consider alternative terms of engagement (although they are not obliged under the Cab Rank Rule to accept instructions on such terms). In particular, they are prepared to consider the following:

1. Agreement for the Supply of Legal Services by a Barrister in a Commercial Case – the form of agreement published jointly by COMBAR/CLLS (version 3.0). Please note that the payment basis under the terms of the agreement will be either Basis A or Basis B and no other version of the agreement will be adopted.
2. Instructions may be accepted under the auspices the Authorised Person’s (solicitor’s) firm’s own terms. Such terms must be provided to the barrister and approved by the barrister through their Clerk.

An agreement under (a) or (b) above must be expressly agreed in writing; our Clerks have authority for these purposes to enter into an agreement incorporating the alternative terms of engagement on behalf of a barrister.

If you have any queries about instructing the barristers in these Chambers, please contact Keith Plowman our Senior Clerk.

Licensed Access

The barristers at Ten Old Square may also accept instructions via the Bar Standards Board (BSB)Licensed Access scheme from professionals who have been granted a licence by the BSB to instruct a barrister directly.

For more information about licensed access please see our here.

Direct Access

The barristers at Ten Old Square do not accept instructions direct from members of the general public.

Information and a list of public access barristers can be found here.