Direct access: Increased competition may improve legal services

Legal services will improve if the Bar makes use of direct access to keep up with changes in the law and its application, according to legal experts.

The Lawyer reported that wariness among barristers of 2004 Public Access Rules, which allow members of the public to instruct barristers, have thus far prevented some in the legal profession from drawing on the low-cost resource.

However, as legal services come under pressure to cut costs, interest in new sources of external advice is growing.

It is also hoped that increasing the use of direct access will create competition in the legal services sector, which will serve to improve quality and reduce costs.

However, Public Access Rules still impose limitations upon the areas in which direct access can be used and the sort of work that must be done by the barrister and the client.

Limitations were put in place to ensure that services provided by barristers continued to be client driven, opposed to being based upon commercial interests.

Published by Tessa Jones