Info about legal aid barristers

[Pasta123]

Hi, im relatively new to this site and this is my first post. Forgive me if my question has already been posted. This site has been very useful at such a stressful time so thank u ! I was wondering what type of service /time /meeting? etc to expect from a legal aid barrister ? I've noticed a few people have said that they only got to meet barrister once before trial etc. ?

[Casehardened]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

The old fashioned term for barrister is advocate, latin for 'speaks for you' (or something like that) i.e. it is your job and your solicitor's job to give him all the facts and evidence to put before the jury and his job to put this over in such a manner that they will believe him and not the prosecuting barrister's version!

It is not really a problem if the defendant only gets to meet their barrister shortly before the trial provided the barrister has been given the complete brief well beforehand and has studied it well (and I appreciate this doesn't always happen for various reasons; a last minute change of barrister can also cause problems!)

Like many trades, personal recommendation is key, whether legal aid or not, and there is a 'Useful Information' section on this forum which includes some recommendations for barristers, be guided also by your solicitor's choice, provided the solicitor is a also a specialist in this field

Edited to add link: http://www.daftmoo.org.uk/mooforum/s...ist-solicitors

[fighter04]

To be honest it all depends on the solicitors you choose and the barristers they instruct. Some solicitors have in-house barristers.

My last solicitors who are now assisting me with my false allegation hired me a great barrister who always stayed in touch. Other firms you will deal directly with the solicitor who passes everything to the barrister

[Lucky]

You would need to get onto your Solicitors to ask them when you can have a conference with your TRIAL barrister/Counsel.

[Rights Fighter]

If you have been charged then you will get a barrister or solicitor advocate / in house barrister. Some will meet with you a few times and others just before trial. Has your sol selected one yet?

[Pasta123]

If you have been charged then you will get a barrister or solicitor advocate / in house barrister. Some will meet with you a few times and others just before trial. Has your sol selected one yet?

Thank u all for your replies!!!!

Yes I have been allocated a barrister. I suppose it's hard to know a good barrister until to actual trial. But that's my worry too. I worry if sol will fully brief barrister and how much time barrister will spend getting to know my case . I think I would rather deal directly with barrister my self but it has to go via solicitor first to pass on etc. As that's the way the firm works .

Can you not pay barrister for an 'extra' meeting /conference even if have one on legal aid ? Why do some deal directly with client and others don't. Million questions ! Sorry it's just confusing

[Rights Fighter]

I doubt you can pay for an extra meeting as you cannot mix legal aid with private funding. Ask the solicitor.