How do I know the barrister I instruct will be right for my case?


Choosing the right barrister is essential not only for your peace of mind but also your pocket. Unless you happen to already know which barrister you want to instruct, you will like most people make an assessment based on Reputation, Experience, Qualification and your own Protection.

Reputation. 4 King’s Bench Walk is one of the leading and best established common law sets of barristers. Our Chambers are in the Temple in the heart of legal London, where we have been for over 30 years. We comprise 46 barristers, five of whom are QCs, and a clerks’ room staff of six. Members of Chambers have gone on to become High Court and Circuit Judges, Queen’s Bench Masters and Employment and Mental Health Review Tribunal Chairmen. 5 of our current members are Recorders (part-time judges in the Crown and County Courts). Not all members of Chambers undertake public access work, particularly those who practice in crime, family and immigration law where public access is either prohibited or only available in very limited circumstances.

Experience. A barrister must have been in practice for at least three years before he can do public access work. In fact those at 4 King’s Bench Walk who take on public access cases are all between nine and 20 years call. As with most Chambers, our barristers specialise in different areas of the law. A barrister is under a professional obligation only to accept cases in which he has experience and competence to act. One of the responsibilities of our clerks is to ensure the right case is assigned to the right barrister.

Qualification. To practise as a barrister a person must have a qualifying law degree or its equivalent, pass the Bar Vocational Course, be called to the Bar by one of the four Inns of Court and successfully complete a one-year pupillage (period of practical training). He or she must then be invited to join an established set of Chambers, known as getting a tenancy. A barrister entitled to do public access work must have also attended a Bar Council designated course. A practising barrister has higher rights of audience entitling him to appear on behalf of a client in all courts in England and Wales.

Protection. All barristers at 4 King’s Bench Walk have current practising certificates, issued by the Bar Council and renewed annually. All have compulsory indemnity insurance and are subject to the supervisory jurisdiction of the Bar Standards Board.