Stobart Group to offer public direct access to barristers

Stobart Barristers, a subsidiary of the Stobart Group, is to provide a new intermediary service directly linking barristers' services to businesses and members of the public.

The service will aim to convince the public that litigation is a viable option by operating a fixed-fee, 'pay-as-you-go' model. The move follows Stobart's decision to employ its own barristers without solicitors in 2008, a choice which saved the group large amounts of money in legal fees, some of which will now filter down into a more cost effective service for the public. The case preparation usually undertaken by solicitors will be handled by Stobart Barrister Support Services, which will provide barristers with paralegal support.

Direct access legislation has permitted the public to directly engage with barristers since 2004, but research found a prevailing lack of knowledge among the public of how to acquire barristers' services without going through solicitors. By providing this direct link to barristers and operating a fixed-fee model that Stobart claims will be up to 50% cheaper than going through a solicitor, the group hopes to meet an underserviced public demand for barristers' services.

Trevor Howarth, Stobart Barristers' managing director, said: "The legal services industry continues to undergo significant changes that are allowing new entrants to the market with innovative business models to provide faster and less expensive services than those offered under traditional models. Our model cuts out waste and opens up access to a national panel of barristers that are selected for their ability to meet our clients' needs. Critically, people want assurances over what financial liabilities they may have if they were to pursue a litigation process but typically face an open-ended process where costs remain unknown. Through providing a fixed-fee service we can help give people greater clarity over what level of exposure they face."