Areas of Law

Online legal advice from experienced Public Access barristers

Legal problems are not always easy to categorise. Barristerly connects individuals, businesses and organisations with independent Public Access barristers who provide clear, practical legal advice about the law of England and Wales.

Whether you are considering a claim, responding to a legal demand or trying to prevent a dispute from escalating, the aim is to help you understand your position, assess your options and decide what to do next.

Select the area that most closely matches your problem. If your issue is not listed, please send us an enquiry. We will tell you whether we may be able to identify a suitable barrister.

Property and Land Disputes

Advice about the ownership, use and enjoyment of land and buildings.

Examples include:

  • boundary disputes and disputed ownership of land;

  • rights of way, access and shared driveways;

  • easements and restrictive covenants;

  • disagreements between joint owners about ownership shares or the sale of a property;

  • trespass, nuisance and interference with property rights;

  • party walls and damage to adjoining property; and

  • estate management charges, rentcharges and obligations contained in property deeds.

Landlord and Tenant Disputes

Advice for landlords and tenants about residential and commercial property.

Examples include:

  • possession proceedings and the validity of notices;

  • rent arrears and breaches of tenancy agreements;

  • tenancy deposits;

  • disrepair and responsibility for repairs or maintenance;

  • service charges, administration charges and leasehold obligations;

  • commercial lease renewals and termination;

  • break clauses and dilapidations; and

  • forfeiture, relief from forfeiture and disputes about the use of premises.

Building and Construction Disputes

Advice for property owners, contractors, subcontractors, developers and businesses involved in building and construction disputes.

Examples include:

  • defective or incomplete building work;

  • disputes about the quality or standard of workmanship;

  • delay, disruption and failure to complete work on time;

  • unpaid invoices and disputed payment applications;

  • variations, additional work and disagreements about price;

  • interpretation and termination of building contracts;

  • responsibility for design or construction defects;

  • damage caused to neighbouring property; and

  • disputes involving builders, surveyors, architects or other construction professionals.

Probate, Inheritance and Trust Disputes

Advice where there is disagreement about a will, an inheritance, the administration of an estate or the management of a trust.

Examples include:

  • challenges to the validity of a will;

  • allegations concerning capacity, undue influence or improper execution;

  • disputes about the meaning or effect of a will;

  • claims for reasonable financial provision from an estate;

  • entitlement to inherit where someone dies without a valid will;

  • concerns about executors, administrators or the distribution of estate assets;

  • disputes between trustees and beneficiaries; and

  • alleged breaches of trust or misuse of trust assets.

Contract, Commercial and Consumer Disputes

Advice about agreements, commercial relationships and disputes concerning goods or services.

Examples include:

  • breach of contract and unpaid invoices;

  • recovery and defence of disputed debts;

  • disputes about written or oral agreements;

  • interpretation of contractual terms;

  • termination of contracts and its consequences;

  • misrepresentation and misleading statements;

  • defective goods, poor workmanship and inadequate services;

  • supply and distribution agreements;

  • cancellation rights and unfair terms; and

  • motor vehicle sales and repair disputes.

Company, Director and Partnership Disputes

Advice about disputes arising from the ownership, management or operation of a business.

Examples include:

  • shareholder and director disputes;

  • directors’ duties and alleged misuse of company assets;

  • disagreements about control or management of a company;

  • unfair prejudice and minority shareholder issues;

  • removal or resignation of directors;

  • disputes about company loans or investments;

  • partnership agreements and partnership property;

  • dissolution of partnerships; and

  • disputes between business owners following the breakdown of their relationship.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy

Advice for individuals, companies, creditors and debtors facing personal or corporate insolvency issues.

Examples include:

  • statutory demands and applications to set them aside;

  • bankruptcy and winding-up petitions;

  • disputed debts relied upon in insolvency proceedings;

  • options available to creditors and debtors;

  • disputes with trustees in bankruptcy, liquidators or administrators;

  • ownership of assets claimed to form part of an insolvent estate;

  • transactions made before insolvency;

  • personal liability of directors; and

  • the effect of bankruptcy or liquidation on existing claims and obligations.

Banking and Finance Disputes

Advice for individuals and businesses about banking, lending and financial agreements.

Examples include:

  • disputes concerning loans and credit agreements;

  • personal and corporate guarantees;

  • mortgages and secured lending;

  • enforcement of security;

  • disputed interest, charges or account balances;

  • allegations of irresponsible lending or misrepresentation;

  • consumer credit disputes;

  • claims involving financial institutions or finance providers;

  • vehicle and asset finance agreements; and

  • disputes about repayment, default or termination.

Negligence and Other Civil Claims

Advice about claims for loss or damage caused by the acts or omissions of another person, business or organisation.

Examples include:

  • negligence causing financial loss or property damage;

  • nuisance and interference with the use of property;

  • damage caused by neighbouring owners or contractors;

  • liability for accidents or unsafe premises;

  • claims involving the careless provision of information or services;

  • disputes about responsibility for loss; and

  • limitation, evidence and the assessment of damages.

Professional and Clinical Negligence

Initial advice about claims arising from allegedly negligent professional or clinical services.

Examples include:

  • whether a professional may have acted below the required standard;

  • claims involving solicitors, surveyors, accountants, architects or other advisers;

  • negligent advice or failure to act within an appropriate time;

  • loss caused by professional error;

  • concerns about medical diagnosis, treatment or consent;

  • causation and the connection between the alleged negligence and resulting loss;

  • limitation periods; and

  • whether expert evidence or further investigation may be required.

Defamation, Privacy and Reputation

Advice about statements or publications that may damage reputation or interfere with privacy.

Examples include:

  • allegedly defamatory statements made online or in print;

  • social media posts, reviews and other publications;

  • libel and slander;

  • misuse of private information;

  • threatened publication of confidential or private material;

  • harassment involving repeated communications or publications;

  • requests for removal, correction or retraction; and

  • available remedies, including damages and injunctions.

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Criminal, Motoring, Licensing and Regulatory Matters

Advice about criminal allegations, road traffic offences, licensing issues and regulatory proceedings.

Examples include:

  • criminal charges, the evidence against you and potential defences;

  • bail, sentencing and the prospects of an appeal;

  • speeding and other road traffic offences;

  • careless or dangerous driving;

  • drink or drug driving;

  • driving without insurance or otherwise than in accordance with a licence;

  • penalty points, disqualification, exceptional hardship and special reasons;

  • alcohol, entertainment, taxi and private-hire licensing;

  • regulatory investigations and enforcement action; and

  • professional disciplinary proceedings.

Public Law and Judicial Review

Advice about decisions and actions taken by public authorities, local authorities, government departments, regulators and other public bodies.

Examples include:

  • whether a public authority has acted lawfully;

  • challenges to decisions made by local authorities or government bodies;

  • failure to follow a fair procedure;

  • failure to consider relevant evidence or individual circumstances;

  • unreasonable or disproportionate decisions;

  • statutory powers and duties;

  • housing, planning and regulatory enforcement by public authorities;

  • discrimination and failures to make reasonable adjustments;

  • judicial review and alternative public law remedies; and

  • complaints, internal reviews and statutory appeals.

Time limits in public law cases, particularly judicial review proceedings, can be very short. Advice should be sought promptly where a decision or threatened action may need to be challenged.

Not sure which area applies?

You do not need to identify the precise legal category before contacting Barristerly.

Choose the area that appears closest to your problem and provide a brief explanation when completing the enquiry form. We will use that information to identify a potentially suitable barrister.

If your matter cannot be considered properly within the Barristerly fixed-fee package, or we cannot identify a suitable available barrister, we will tell you.

Book an online barrister consultation

The Barristerly package costs £690, including VAT, and provides up to two hours of the barrister’s professional time in total.

It ordinarily includes:

  • advance consideration of your information;

  • review of up to 20 pages of relevant supporting documents;

  • an online consultation of up to 60 minutes; and

  • a short written summary of the principal advice and recommended next steps.

Every appointment is subject to conflict and suitability checks and acceptance of the instruction by the barrister.

[Choose an area of law and book]

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