Q. How much does the service cost?
A. Bar Select is free to use for clients who wish to book barristers for work. Bar Select is funded by barrister subscriptions.
Q. How do I start using Bar Select?
A. The first step is to register online - select 'Register' on the right of the Home Page or click here
Q. How do I manage my account with Bar Select once registered?
A. Simply select the 'My Account' icon from the front page once you have logged in.
Q. What information do I need to provide for registration?
A. You can create a profile for yourself that barristers dealing with you can see. You can include usual information such as the name of your organisation; your email address; your direct phone number; and so on. The options are clearly visible on the registration form.
Q. How can I find out how the booking process works?
A. There is a walk-through of the booking process available - see the web site Home Page or click here
Q. Can I get started right away?
A. Yes. You can simply begin the booking process, following the logical steps indicated.
Q. How do I know if there is a barrister available on Bar Select who is suitable for what I need?
A. You can either carry out a search based on search criteria you choose from the available options, or place your booking enquiry on the Public List and wait for responses from barristers interested in taking on the work. It is always for you to decide who is suitable to take on your work.
Q. Can I find out more about the barristers that come up in a search or who respond to a booking enquiry?
A. Each barrister member is encouraged to complete a profile for each practice area they wish to be included in. You can view that profile and any documents (such as case judgments or articles) attached to it by clicking on the barrister summary entry where indicated.
Q. What if I want to know more than I can discover from the barrister profile?
A. You have the ability to communicate with the barristers you are interested in through Bar Select in the 'Communications' stage of the booking process. You can carry on a separate written exchange with each barrister and address any question or pass on any information you wish. Each conversation is easily viewed and you can readily see what messages await your attention.
Q. How do I manage and compare barrister responses where I am dealing with more than one barrister?
A. In the Communications stage you are presented with a summary listing of the responses received including fee quotes for ease of comparison. Each summary can be expanded to view the exchanges you have had with the barrister concerned.
Q. Once I have decided who I want to book what happens then?
A. You select 'Book' for the relevant barrister and then the barrister must accept the booking. Once completed, the booking will be entered into the barrister's individual Bar Select LEX diary and you will be notified of that entry by email.
Q. What about subsequent diary entries such as for conferences once the matter is underway?
A. It is the barrister's (or clerk's) responsibility to maintain the Bar Select diary so that whenever a new entry is made you will be notified by email.
Q. Are communications handled through Bar Select once the booking has been made?
A. Once the booking is made you can communicate with the barrister (direct or via the barrister's clerk as you agree) in any way you choose.
Q. What information can I obtain about bookings made through Bar Select?
A. Thanks to the flexibility of the LEX diary management system, you can generate management reports providing unprecedented analysis and detail across a wide range of parameters that you can select. This is a unique benefit to clients who make regular use of barristers and need to monitor expenditure, the allocation of work, performance and pricing.
Q. What happens if I encounter difficulties with the barrister I have chosen or wish to complain about the service I have received?
A. While we are keen to here of client experiences of using barristers registered with Bar Select, we take no part in the forming or conduct of your professional relationship with any chosen barrister. If you have a complaint about the conduct of your chosen barrister the best course is to consult the complaints section of the Bar Standards Board web site at www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
However, if a barrister registered with Bar Select is found to be in any way abusing the service or bringing it into disrepute then Bar Select Limited does have the discretion to remove a barrister from Bar Select.
Q. What if I am approached by a barrister or clerk with the suggestion that I book a barrister who is not registered with Bar Select?
A. You are free to make whatever choice of barrister you believe to be in the best interests of your client or your organisation. We do not encourage this sort of arrangement as it obviously undermines our business. We would always encourage clients to make use of Bar Select so that its benefits can be fully enjoyed.