Lay advisers who would like to obtain specialist advice or representation from barristers, whether using their organisation's funds or on the basis that the client pays privately, may wish to know that some barristers are now authorised to offer services on a Direct Access basis, which may permit advice or representation by a barrister without the need to instruct a solicitor first.

Details of how the scheme works can be seen on the Bar Council's website here:

http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/guidance/publicaccessinformationforlayclients/