Public Access Guidance
Additional Information
Our counsel are able to accept direct public access instructions should a client wish to instruct counsel directly, without first going through a solicitor. Please contact our clerk for further details and a cost projection.
More information can be read following this link:
Public Access Guidance for Lay Client:
Public Access Services
We provide services in the public access scheme across the full spectrum of legal areas. Please contact us for more information on this.
Timescales
Once we are informed about your legal requirements and circumstances we can advise in relation to timescale. This can be dependent upon the particular circumstances of your case. For instance, if you have been provided with a Court date you might need to undertake certain work to be ready for that date or provide the Court with a response to their request. It is important to inform us of such matters to confirm we can undertake the work within the required time frame.
We will typically agree a timescale within which we aim to satisfy your matter however there are factors which may influence the timescales.
Often this is the case in Immigration Cases. Whilst we can provided predicted dates using the guidelines, sometimes immigration matters can be delayed by the Home Office.
We will endeavor to keep you updated when such delays do occur.
There might be times when something unexpected happens e.g. illness, which could cause a delay in the timescale of providing you with a piece of work. In such circumstances we would contact you to advise you of the position in order to assess whether the case would benefit from being passed to someone of similar experience or to explain that the work required will be slightly delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.
Public Access Cases
All fees and the terms for any changes must be agreed before the Terms and Conditions letter is sent out as they will be set out in detail there.
You can find information regarding our fees, on our fees section of our website.
Additional Costs
In addition to the cost of your barrister there are additional costs and disbursements which may be required to be paid by you.
These can include:
· Court fees charged by the Courts and Tribunal Service for issuing or dealing with your claim. These fees can be found on the Courts and Tribunals website by following this link.
· Travel and accommodation costs should you wish your barrister to travel to court or a conference or stay overnight near to the place where your case will be dealt with. Please contact the administration team to request a quote for an estimate of these costs as soon as it becomes clear they will be incurred.
Key stages
- An initial meeting with your barrister to discuss your case when the details will be explored and an overall analysis/strategy. This may be face to face meeting, however, can be conducted via telephone or video given the ongoing pandemic
- It may be appropriate for your barrister to provide a written advice/opinion on your dispute or matter.
- Case preparation, including further client conferences with you and assistance with drafting of court documents
- The first hearing. This may be the First Directions Appointment (FDA), First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointments (FHDRA) directions and emergency hearings.
- Further hearings of approximately an hour or more dependent on the matter and the complexity. These may include, depending on the type of case, , Financial Dispute Resolution appointments (FDRs), Case Management Hearings (CMH), Pre-Trial Reviews (PTR), directions appointments, and other interim hearings.
- First day of Final Hearing or Trial.
- Court appearances per day, after the first day of the Final Hearing or Trial.
- Appeals can take place after the court has made a decision. The decision to appeal or respond to an appeal will be yours but only after you have been given full advice/written opinion.
- These timeframes are indicative of the process from the beginning, however, you may instruct us whilst proceedings have already been initiated.
Timescale:
At the beginning of each matter, the timeframe will be estimated. Contested disputes often take 12 months or longer.
Timescales may vary significantly dependent upon the complexity and nature of your matter. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, courts have a significant backlog of cases, and due to unforeseen circumstances, the courts are cancelling hearings listed because of lack of judges. There are also significant issues surrounding the novel remote hearings, which often experience technical difficulties.
Immigration
If you are looking to challenge an immigration decision Ashraf Law can advise you. It will provide advice and preparation for hearings and representation if required at hearings. If you have received a refusal decision from the Home Office it must be appealed within 14 days if you are in the UK, and within 28 days if you are out of country. Immigration appeals considerably vary in length according to the complexity of the case, the listing of the. appeal by the IAC and the need for additional documents and Barristers' availability.
Summary Only Motoring Offences (advice and representation for defendants)
With cases in the Magistrates Courts, once summons to court containing the initial. Hearing date is received – it can take between 1 to 6 months for the substantial hearing to take place. Ashraf Law do offer the ability to engage in a conference before the final hearing, as significant preparation and analysis may be required. Once all the legal requirements are obtained from the client Ashraf Law will be able to provide a timeframe as to how long your matter may last.