New figures from the Bar Council’s Direct Access Portal, the free to use ‘find a barrister’ website, show that EU law is among the top five most popular consumer searches, with the uncertainty surrounding Britain’s decision to withdraw from Europe a potential explanation as to why.
Search statistics from a sample of more than 9000 individual searches made between 1 January and 1 August this year reveal that the top 20 most common search terms on the portal – which lists barristers who have undergone additional training in order to deal directly with clients – include employment issues, commercial matters and EU law.
Chairman of the Bar, Chantal-Aimee Doerries QC, said: “We can only assume that the reason EU law is so high up the rankings (fourth) is because of the uncertainty of Brexit. Although the main reason anyone is seeking the services of a barrister in the first place is because they are uncertain of their position in relation to the law, whether that be an employment issue, land dispute, or a matter affecting their business.”
Direct access allows anyone to instruct a barrister without needing to go through a solicitor.
The top 20 most popular searches on the Direct Access Portal are listed below. The least popular search among consumers was poor old transport law. Perhaps none of them travel on Southern.
Top 20
1. Civil
2. Property
3. Employment
4. EU
5. Professional Negligence
6. Wills/Inheritance
7. Administrative
8. Landlord and tenant
9. Commercial
10. Land
11. Intellectual Property
12. Probate
13. Banking
14. Disability Discrimination
15. Mental health
16. Personal injury
17. Court of Protection
18. Trusts
19. Defamation
20. Medical Negligence