Quality Assurance Statement

Rougemont Chambers is committed to providing advice and advocacy of the highest quality across all aspects of civil, family, and criminal law.
CHAMBERS’ BUSINESS PROCEDURES
Chambers undertakes to:-
 

  1. Acknowledge all papers by fax or e-mail to the Case Handler within 24 hours, or by post within 48 hours;
  2. Return completed standard paperwork instructions within 21 days unless an alternative date is agreed in advance;
  3. Return completed urgent paperwork instructions within 5 working days, by e-mail or fax if necessary;
  4. Ensure Counsel instructed looks at briefs for trial within  5 working days of receipt or 2 days before trial, whichever is the sooner, and notify Instructing Solicitors of any previously unforeseen problems or costs implications (e.g. return of brief/change of Counsel);
  5. Wherever possible, provide the Counsel booked for trial or other hearing, and where not possible discuss an alternative with Instructing Solicitors,  always reserving to Instructing Solicitors the right to seek the return of the Brief;
  6. Provide Instructing Solicitors with a full breakdown of Counsel’s fees (including time spent). A fee note should be provided within 48 hours of delivery of the Advice, Conference or attendance at Court;
  7. Return papers within 7 days of receipt of final payment-adjustment from the Legal Services Commission;
  8. Be prepared to consider whether to act on a Conditional Fee Basis;
  9. Offer Counsel to attend conference at client/solicitor location if appropriate or upon request and/or by video conference;
  10. Offer Counsel at interlocutory hearings in chambers without requiring Instructing Solicitors to sit behind Counsel;
  11. Identify costs issues in advance of hearings in fast-track Trials and application notices requiring summary assessment;
  12. Assist Instructing Solicitors to recover the “sitting behind” fee in all cases where a solicitor has attended Counsel at trial;
  13. In appropriate cases, be prepared to accept Counsel’s reduction of fees if required on summary or detailed assessment;
  14. Accept instructions by e-mail as appropriate and return advice by e-mail when requested. E-mailed advice to be followed up by hard copy if requested;
  15. Handle small claims matters where required;
  1. If requested, or appropriate, provide a written note of the judgment made at any hearing, together with a note of any significant points/feedback which Counsel considers would be useful, such note to be included in the Brief Fee;
  2. If requested, to consider deferring fees until the end of the case or until Instructing Solicitors deliver an interim bill to the client (unless publicly funded);
  3. Provide a written complaints procedure upon request.  In the meantime any complaint (if not resolved informally with the Member concerned) should be addressed to the Head of Chambers or the  Senior Clerk who will refer the matter to the Head of Chambers if appropriate;
  4. Comply with CPS requirements to record the reasons for making returns;
  5. Notify clients of changes in law relating to their case, any potential conflict of interest, any significant developments in Court when the professional client is not present, and any factors liable to cause delay and the reasons for them.

 

Signed:

Printed Name:

Position:

Date: