DIRECT PUBLIC ACCESS

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INSTRUCTING COUNSEL DIRECTLY

IT IS ADVISED THAT YOU READ THIS OUTLINE AS AMR WILL EXPECT YOU TO ADHERE TO IT.

IF YOU CONSIDER THAT YOU CANNOT DO SO, PLEASE INSTRUCT A SOLICITOR OR OTHER COUNSEL.

Solicitor required

• Clients who require a solicitor, please instruct one. You can request that the solicitor instructs Counsel if you wish. 

Direct access

• Direct access if available for clients who are capable of managing their case themselves and who are capable of giving coherent, consistent instructions. An agreement may be terminated where a client cannot do so. 

No conduct of litigation

• Counsel does not conduct litigation. 
• Where a client considers they can undertake the litigation aspect of the work, for example the admin side - one example is filing and serving documents - they can instruct counsel. 

Abuse is not tolerated

• Please note - Counsel will not tolerate abusive behaviour, and expects clients to respect her at all times. Abusive conduct - including personal / offensive comments to counsel or rude comments - will result in termination of the agreement.

Counsel's professional duties

• Counsel has to abide by professional duties including - when giving advice that it is - honest advice (even if it is negative), flag if it becomes apparent that the client needs a solicitor, be able to take instructions from the client at all times, not mislead the court for example lie for a client, and must act in the best interests of the client and the interests of justice. Clients who consider this in any way a concern should not instruct AMR / GRSC.

Implied into the contract

• Upon instruction of AMR it is implied into the contract that you have accepted that AMR will abide by her professional duties and you as the client will give her the respect she should have in her working life. 

Negative advice / weak case

• Upon instruction of AMR it is implied that you accept that counsel may give you negative advice and may lose your case. No lawyer can guarantee a definite success, and lawyers have a duty to given honest advice when asked.

Non-refundable

• Please note there is no refund under any circumstances; the work is non refundable and by signing the contract you agree that the fee is non refundable even if the advice is negative or you lose your case.

Working practice

• Please note that the agreed work defined in the client care letter is the entirety of the work until a new agreement.
• Counsel works under direct access, but will not be available 24/7 to any client unless they have specifically paid for that time and agreed it in a client care letter.
• The expectation is that you can self-manage, undertake some admin level work yourself and are fully capable of giving coherent instructions.
• It is expected that you will not be constantly emailing, or contacting counsel other than supplying what is requested and in respect of abiding by the client care agreement.
• If you want counsel to constantly read emails and respond, or undertake any further work, that time must be paid for - it is envisaged when the fee is quoted that whatever work you require is set out in the contract.
• If you expect more than what is set out in the agreement, you must flag it before the agreement is signed and the fee is paid.
• When you require additional contact or emails, you must specify that before the client care letter is signed and the fee will be adjusted to include that work and reflect the expected frequency and depth of contact.

Excessive contact

• If the contact becomes excessive, it may indicate you require a solicitor and you are not suitable for direct access instructions.
• Contact which is abusive, stalker-like / harassment or inappropriate will lead to termination of the agreement.

Your conduct is expected to be professional towards me at all times, and in return my conduct towards you shall also be professional. Of course, it is expected that you shall express your opinion and emotions.