Minimum a firm would pay a barrister?

[LaylaBrown]

For representing them all a two hour hearing? Between the defendant and claimant there are 200 pages of submissions.

[atticus]

I would expect an absolute minimum fee of £500 + VAT. Don't forget there will be preparation time, not less than 2 hours and quite probably more.

There are many factors that come into play that I have not touched on: you asked a simple question and have been given a simple answer.

[echat11]

What I would say is that firms tend to use the same barristers for the same type of cases.
So there might be an agreement in place. So that may effect the costs involved.

[LaylaBrown]

When would they get a barrister involved? Say the hearing was next Tuesday?

[atticus]

A sufficient length of time in advance to allow the barrister to prepare properly. If the barrister has previously been involved and is familiar with the case, this may be a shorter period.

You say there are 200 pages of submissions: this is not a simple case.

[LaylaBrown]

This is why I ask - I discussed settlement with their solicitor today, and mentioned I would be booking transport on Wednesday and confirming a day off work, unpaid. Hearing is a week Tuesday.

Was told “we will inform our barrister of this.”

There’s been quite a lot of brinkmanship already from their end in terms of negotiating settlement. Also odd is that a new person from the firm took over the case as of today, stating that the previous person handling things was on holiday.

He was also on holiday two weeks ago though.

So I wonder whether they are trying to outfox me in some way.

I know I said 200 pages, but half of that is the companies terms and conditions.

the firm also appears to be as much an ombudsman as a solicitors firm - specialising in meditation etc.

My instincts, as a lay person, are that they don’t have a barrister hired yet and are trying to force me to propose settlement first.

I have a pretty good case, imo. They already proposed settling for £350 and have maintained this offer for months. I am currently seeking £1300 plus costs.

[atticus]

Documents put in evidence are not submissions; that term refers to written legal argument.

[LaylaBrown]

Sorry, I meant witness statement and exhibits.

Is getting a barrister involved eight days in advance realistic, would you say?

[atticus]

Did I mention the need to allow the barrister preparation time?

You could always ask the diect question whether they have delivered counsel's brief.

[LaylaBrown]

I wouldn't believe them to tell me the truth, tbh.

I got the feeling today that they purposely wanted to say the word barrister as an intimidation tactic.

Is 8 days within the realms of normality? Or a bit too much?

[atticus]

Q1. Yes.

Q2. No.

It is a breach of solicitors' conduct rules to mislead an opponent.

[LaylaBrown]

"I would expect an absolute minimum fee of £500 + VAT. Don't forget there will be preparation time, not less than 2 hours and quite probably more."

£500+VAT for four hours+ seems low.

Is it because of what echat11 said? "What I would say is that firms tend to use the same barristers for the same type of cases.
So there might be an agreement in place. So that may effect the costs involved."

i.e.it's one lump payment per case?

[atticus]

You did ask the minimum. It's in the title of your thread.

And I did say absolute minimum.

Now please stop the navel gazing and decide what you are going to do.

[LaylaBrown]

Okay. Thank you.

[Manxman]

Okay. Thank you.

Does it matter if the defendant has a barrister or not?

If you are only claiming £1300* I'd have thought this was "small claims" and that legal costs couldn't be claimed?


*I'd be surprised if they retained a barrister to defend a £1300 claim...