Fees & Instructions

Our experienced and approachable team of clerks have the knowledge and skills to direct clients immediately to the appropriate members of our team for any particular case, depending on its complexity and value.  They are happy to discuss potential instructions to help clients to decide on the best way forward with their case.

The basis on which fees are calculated and charged at St John’s Chambers

Barristers in the following teams most often charge on the following basis for the following areas of work (in each instance please contact the clerks to check that this system of charging will be applicable for your case):

• Agriculture & Rural Affairs Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee
• Clinical Negligence Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee
• Commercial Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee
• Construction & Engineering Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fe
• Court of Protection These cases are split between being legally-aided and privately-funded. The rates at which a barrister is paid for legally-aided work are set by the Legal Aid Agency. In privately-funded cases, some will be charged an agreed fixed fee, but most will be calculated the on basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Employment Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Family & Divorce
• Children The majority of public law children cases are legally-aided. Some private law cases are eligible for legal aid however most of these cases are privately-funded. The rates at which a barrister is paid for legally-aided work are set by the Legal Aid Agency. In privately-funded cases, some will be charged an agreed fixed fee, but most will be calculated the on basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Divorce and Financial Remedy: In the majority of cases, fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Inquests & Public Inquiries These cases are split between being legally-aided and privately-funded. The rates at which a barrister is paid for legally-aided work are set by the Legal Aid Agency. In privately-funded cases, some will be charged an agreed fixed fee, but most will be calculated the on basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• International Arbitration Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Personal Injury Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Professional Negligence Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Public & Administrative Law Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Real Estate Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Tax Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.
• Wills & Trusts Fees for all work, advisory, drafting and representation in this area are most usually calculated on the basis of an hourly rate or as a fixed fee.

All fees are charged exclusive of VAT.

Factors that may increase fees in a case

In all privately-funded cases, whether accepted on the basis of a fixed fee or hourly rate there are factors which increase the amount of work involved and the fees charged.

Some of the influencing factors include:

• The seniority of barrister instructed on your case. More experienced barristers are likely to charge a higher level of fees than a more junior, less experienced barrister.
• The volume of papers involved and/or the complexity of the factual and legal issues involved.
• Work required within short timescales which may require the barrister to prioritise a case over others, and to work out of normal working hours will usually incur higher levels of fees.
• Case significance. Cases of particularly high-profile in terms of consequence, impact and also those with media interest may require a high level of fees.
• The length of time the barrister is required at court.
• The amount of travel time required for the barrister to attend court and any case conferences.

Our clerks will always discuss the likely level of fees required in each case. Should you be concerned about the level of fees that may be involved in your case please speak to the relevant barrister’s clerk at the earliest opportunity.

We will always aim to inform you if a barrister is required to carry out more work on the case than originally estimated, and will then revise the fees accordingly. Please note that the most accurate fees can be quoted if full details are given to our clerks when you are first instructing one of our barristers.

All our team members can accept instructions direct from industry professionals under the Licensed Access scheme.  This allows members of licensed organisations, such as RICS, to instruct us without having to go through a solicitor.

Some members of the team are also available to act, where appropriate, for members of the public, as well as commercial and non-commercial organisations, under the Public Access scheme. Read more.