If you find yourself in the position of being taken to court, or where you need to take another party to court, you really do need to consider whether you are not you need to engage a barrister. You could represent yourself in the court, but that is not often the best course of action.
You see, a barrister is fully trained in advocacy and litigation, and as they have an in-depth understanding of the law and the court system it means that they can provide invaluable guidance as well as representation if needed. Whether you’re dealing with a criminal charge, a family law matter, or a civil dispute, a barrister can help you navigate the legal process and achieve the best possible outcome for you.
In this article, we’ll explore the reasons why you might need a barrister and how they can support you throughout your legal journey. Whether you’re a business owner, an individual, or a non-profit organisation, a barrister can be an essential partner in achieving your goals.
What does a barrister do?
Barristers provide a range of services, and perhaps the two most well-known ones are that of providing legal advice on a whole range of subjects, including criminal, family and civil law, and of course that of representing their clients in court.
The provision of legal advice can be vital, as it allows people or businesses to understand the chance of reaching a successful conclusion in any legal ‘battle’. This holds true for both the person making the claim and those facing a claim. In some instances, this will lead the case to be drooped, the advice given concluding that a successful outcome is unlikely. Conversely, it can also lead a party to agree to settle without going to court, as they know that the chances are that they would lose and then be liable for items like costs etc.
It is for the representation of clients in the courtroom that barristers are most well known for, the black robbed bewigged figure being well known because of the many police dramas we see on TV every week. Here their job is to argue their case effectively, this being especially required where the case is legally complex. As mentioned above, it is possible to represent yourself or your business in court, but here it is very easy to fall foul of the regulations and ‘the way things are done’ which can in itself cause the case to be lost.
However, besides these two valuable services, barristers also draft legal documents for their clients, these including contracts, pleadings and briefs. As with any legal document, it is essential to use concise and correct wording in all cases, barristers having the necessary experience and knowledge so to do.
Barristers can also sometimes arrange a settlement out of court, acting as mediators so that a fair settlement can be reached.
When you really need a barrister.
There are many situations where you should really engage a barrister.
These can be broadly divided into four categories:-
- When you are facing criminal charges.- Obviously, such charges if proved could result in losing your liberty, or at least face substantial fines. In such cases it really makes sense to engage a barrister as they can provide legal representation and help you to navigate the criminal justice system.
- When family law is involved – Such cases can be complicated and cover important areas like divorce or child custody. Good representation can make all the difference to the outcome in such cases, so again, the best advice is to engage a barrister as that substantially increases your chance of success.
- Civil matters – This area covers a large range of disputes, like breach of contract, malfeasance, liable or perhaps an issue regarding a property. As in the above types of legal cases, having a barrister on your side can increase the chances of success.
- Business cases – There are many instances where a business could find itself in trouble, examples being contract disputes, employment issues as well as the matter of intellectual property.
How to find the right barrister for your case?
Finding the best barrister for your particular case is vital. You need to find one that specialises in the area of law you find yourself ‘fighting’ in, as well as one that you can relate to and that you feel relates well to you.
Perhaps the best place to start is to talk to any one you know who has had to engage a barrister, but where this is not possible the Internet offers the best way of finding ones to check out. You will need to check their credentials and if you can read any reviews that are available. The final step of course is to arrange a consultation so that you can discuss your situation and decide whether they can provide the required expertise.
For more information and an example of the services barristers provide, please see https://www.thomasmore.co.uk/
