Terms of Business

No 1 High Pavements Chambers is committed to providing the highest possible level of service and ensuring that we continue to meet the individual needs of our clients on a daily basis.

Barristers in chambers practice in Criminal and Regulatory law. Our barristers advise and represent clients:

(1) Facing criminal charges in the Magistrates’ or Crown Courts. Our barristers also act for clients in the High Court and Court of Appeal, and for the Crown Prosecution Service;

(2) In relation to regulatory matters. Our barristers act for clients hearings and in appeals to the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court, the High Court and the Court of Appeal and for both the Crown Prosecution Service and other prosecuting bodies.

(3) In relation to inquest matters before the Coroner’s Court.

Chambers' clerking team are renowned for their organisation, approachability and efficiency. They strive to meet our client’s needs at all times. The clerking team have the knowledge and expertise to be able to offer you the very best advocate on any given case.

Chambers is run by a highly skilled management committee comprised of barristers, under the leadership of the Head of Chambers and in conjunction with the Senior Clerk. This enables clear lines of communication, leadership and accountability.

Chambers consistently reviews our service standard levels and internal processes to ensure that the level of service Chamber's provides meets our clients' requirements.

Barristers in chambers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board. You can search the Barristers’ Register on the Bar Standards Board’s website:

This shows (1) whether a barrister has a current practising certificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings,

These are published on the Bar Standards Board’s website in accordance with their policy. Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 to ask about this or e-mail ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk.

Quotes

The following are invited to contact the clerks on 0115 941 8218 or clerks@1highpavement.co.uk for a quote for our barristers’ services’

Solicitors or other practising lawyers;

We will provide you with a quote as soon as possible. We always aim to set out quotes clearly, but if you receive your quote and there is something you do not understand, please contact us.

Quotes will be provided setting out the cost of the initial brief fee, each preparatory hearing, the daily "refresher" rate, the cost of any conference and ancillary matters, sentence and in the event of the case resolving, the fees involved.

Fees

The majority of our quotes charge a fixed-fee (as opposed to an hourly rate) for private criminal and regulatory work, where the client is not eligible for Legal Aid, which enables us to reflect the type of case, the number of hearings involved and the different outcomes at different stages of the case.

All of members of Chambers are VAT registered and so any quote will include VAT. Members are also insured under the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund.

Timescales for a case may vary depending on factors such as barristers’ availability, the type and complexity of the case, the other side’s approach and court waiting times.

No. 1 High Pavement Chambers operates under the Bar’s standard contractual terms (the “standard terms”). The Bar's standard contractual terms are available here:

The Standard Contractual Terms for the Supply of Legal Service Barristers to Authorised Persons (2012)

Please note that the standard terms are our Barrister’s default position and may be varied by specific, written agreement.

They apply to all privately funded work where there are no other terms agreed or applicable.

The standard terms do not apply to any publicly funded (Legal Aid) work, work undertaken under the terms of a specific tender or any other bespoke written agreement or arrangement.

No. 1 High Pavement Chambers is committed to equality and diversity.

Chambers do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, religion or political persuasion. This applies to all clients (lay or professional) and staff. It also applies in our approach to and acceptance of instructions to counsel and our employment selection procedures for prospective tenants, pupillage and staff.

This also covers conduct of all members, staff and pupils. Any discrimination of any kind will be deemed as unacceptable.

Chambers adheres to the Bar Council Equality Code.

No. 1 High Pavement aims to provide an excellent level of service at all times.

If, however, you do have a complaint regarding any Chambers business, you are invited to let us know as soon as possible. It is not necessary to involve Solicitors to make your complaint, but you are free to do so should you wish.

Chambers invites you to contact No. 1 High Pavement Chambers in the first instance on 0115 941 8218 and speak to our Senior Clerk Jaclyn Richardson with whom you can discuss your complaint on an informal basis. She will make a note of the details of your complaint and what you would like done about it. She will discuss your concerns and aim to resolve them. She will record the outcome should the matter resolve and also check with you that you are satisfied the matter is resolved.

If you are not happy with the outcome then you are invited to write to the Head of Chambers, Micheal Auty QC. All formal complaints will be acknowledged within 7 working days and investigated by the Complaints team. A report on the findings will be provided as soon as possible. If it is not possible to provide a full response within 28 days you will be provided with an update on the progress of the investigation.

Please note Chambers will not deal with complaints that fall outside of a twelve month period from the date on which the act or omission arose save for in exceptional circumstances.

If you remain unhappy with the outcome of the investigation then you may complain to The Legal Ombudsman. The Legal Ombudsman is the independent complaints body for service complaints about lawyers. They can be contacted at:

The Legal Ombudsman

PO Box 15870, Birmingham, B30 9EB
Telephone: 0300 555 0333
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk

You can also search the decision data at Legal Ombudsman Decisions

This shows providers which received an ombudsman’s decision in the previous 12 months, and whether LeO required the provider to give the consumer a remedy.

Alternatively, you can contact LeO on 0300 555 0333 to ask about this or e-mail enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk.

Please note the Legal Ombudsman will not deal with complaints that fall outside of a twelve month period from the date on which the act or omission rose save for in exceptional circumstances.

Chambers takes your privacy and data security very seriously as per our Privacy Policy.

All members of Chambers and No. 1 High Pavement Chambers are registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO)

No. 1 High Pavement Chambers, registered at 1 High Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 1HF (the “Chambers”) is a ‘data controller’ for the purpose of relevant data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) for the information which it collects for marketing, recruitment and employment purposes.

No. 1 High Pavement Chambers also acts as a ‘data processor’ on behalf of our members who provide legal services; a separate Privacy Notice is available for provision of these services and a copy can be requested by emailing the Senior Clerk:

Jaclyn Richardson: jaclynrichardson@1highpavement.co.uk