Q. How much does it cost?
A. £99 per year (+VAT), for a minimum period of 12 months.
Q. How is that collected?
A. By direct debit.
Q. Can my Chambers pay for it and add it to my Chambers account?
A. We can accept direct debit payments from your Chambers.
Q. Is the membership fee tax deductible?
A. The payments you make for the Bar Select service should be treated in the same way as any other allowable business expense. Please refer to your tax advisor/accountant.
Q. What do I get for my membership fee?
A. You will be entitled to:
- Use of the LEX diary management system (your own personal LEX diary)
- A free enhanced listing (worth £99 per year) for the life of your membership and a year's subscription to Legaltraining.tv online CPD resources - if you join on or before 1 October
- Be listed in search results according to client search parameters and your stated availability (where bookings require attendance on specific dates such as for hearings or conferences)
- Respond to booking enquiries posted on the Bar Select public list (the public list is where clients can post cases and invite proposals rather than using the search facility)
Q. How do I join?
A. Follow the links to 'Sign up' found on the home page or use the 'Register' button at the top right hand corner of the home page.
Q. Is Bar Select a Chambers?
A. No.
Q. What is Bar Select then?
A. Bar Select is a new service without precedent or direct comparison.
Bar Select provides online services to barristers and clients who wish to instruct barristers. Clients are able to search for barristers they might choose to instruct and then communicate with them before making a choice and confirming a booking. Alternatively, clients are able to place bookings on a public list inviting proposals and communicate with those responding before making a choice and confirming a booking.
Once a booking has been made it will be entered into the barrister's LEX diary on Bar Select and notification sent by email to barrister and client. The barrister or clerk must then keep that diary up to date. If you are a LEX user then your diary can be synchronised. If you are a Meridian or Inquisita user then you will have to copy and paste. New entries will be notified to the client by email.
Q. Is it a Directory?
A. No. Bar Select does not publish a list of barrister members.
Q. Which practice areas do you cover?
A. Bar Select covers all practice areas. If there is an area that is not included in our list of practice areas that you wish added please contact us.
Q. Can I stay in my Chambers and make use of Bar Select to attract new work and new clients?
A. Yes, unless your Chambers decides otherwise.
Q. Can I join Bar Select if I am not affiliated with a Chambers?
A. Yes.
Q. Can my clerk have access to Bar Select on my behalf?
A. Yes, using your username and password (you are responsible for the security of your username and password). Your Chambers clerking team should be making sure they are familiar with the workings of Bar Select in order to assist you in making the most of the opportunities Bar Select presents and that you are paying to enjoy.
Q. Once I have signed up what do I have to do to get started?
A. The first step is to complete your profile for each practice area in which you wish to be listed. You will be shown how to complete your profile(s) and if you get stuck you can select 'Help' for useful tips. If you are still stuck then you can contact us.
Q. Can I use the profile I have on my Chambers web site?
A. You can use whatever you like. Your profile will have an important influence on the impression you create with a prospective client and so should be specific to each practice area.
Q. Can I upload a photo?
A. Yes.
Q. Can I upload documents such as articles and judgments?
A. Yes. A facility is also provided for you to create case summaries and attach to those client testimonials.
Q. What else do I have to do?
A. The only other thing to do is to make sure that you have entered your availability (or rather when you are not available) in the calendar so that your details are not presented to clients whose requirements are date/time critical.
Q. How do I get work through Bar Select?
A. There are two ways in which clients can choose to use Bar Select:
- They can search for barristers based on criteria such as practice area, seniority and geography (they can also search by Chambers and stored 'favourites'); or
- They can place their work on a public list inviting contact from anyone wishing to take on the work
Your responsibility, or your clerk's, is to respond to enquiries as they come in or pitch for work posted on the public list. If you do not communicate with potential clients then they are unlikely or unable to instruct you.
Q. How does it work?
A. If your details come up in a client search then the client can choose to send the relevant booking enquiry to you inviting a response including a fee quotation. In this communication stage you can exchange messages with the client through Bar Select. You can provide a quote; respond to specific questions raised by the client; and ask questions of your own. If the client decides to proceed with your quote then the client confirms the booking and, if you want the work, you accept the booking.
Q. Can I decline a booking enquiry?
A. You are bound by the Code of Conduct and the 'Cab Rank Rule'. You must make your own decision whether or not to decline and be prepared to give your reasons if asked.
Q. What happens once the booking has been made?
A. Once completed, the booking will be entered into your individual Bar Select LEX diary and you and the client will be notified of that entry by email. It is then your responsibility (or your clerk's) to maintain the diary going forward making such entries as are necessary; the client is then informed of such entries by email (the client is not allowed to see your diary).
Q. Do I have to go on communicating with my client through Bar Select?
A. Once the booking is made you are free to communicate with your client (direct and/or via your clerk as you agree) in any way you both choose.
Q. What will Bar Select be doing to encourage solicitors and others to use Bar Select?
A. Our primary objective is to drive business through Bar Select for the benefit of our members. We will be constantly communicating with solicitors across the country, as well as in-house counsel and potential Licensed Access clients, to inform them about Bar Select, how to use its functionality and the unique benefits offered including unprecedented management reporting capabilities.