HOW TO INSTRUCT COUNSEL: USEFUL GUIDES: “DO NOT MAKE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS FLUFFY”

The post yesterday covering a case where counsel’s advice was altered led to some interesting discussions on Twitter.  This led to a thread where one lawyer said that they had not been taught how to instruct counsel at any time when doing their professional education.  This may  be an appropriate time to look again at guidance on instructing counsel.

 

 

LEGAL ORANGE

Legal Orange is long retired blogger, there was a brief post in January 2018 “Just stopping by”. When Legal Orange was blogging they wrote with a lot of commonsense.  Their post on “How to Instruct Counsel” is timeless.   The whole post is worth reading and Legal Orange gets a bit of a shock when WordPress tells them that their visitor numbers have risen.  Advice given includes:

 

  1. “Why use a barrister”

“They are smart cookies. Plus they have the time to properly research, consider and prepare a claim, which is a luxury rarely afforded to litigators. Our enemies are e-mail and the telephone.  Some days you don’t practice law as you fire-fight the numerous enquiries for updates on management information, funding, indemnity insurance, CPD requirements and perhaps the most importantly, clients asking you to drop everything and answer their urgent query (as a freebie that you can’t refuse because they send you work on a regular basis).”

2.   “How do you choose the right barrister?”

“Pick up the telephone and tell the clerks what you need”

 

3. How (instruct Counsel.

 

  • “Give the correct title which indicates where it is at (e.g. Proposed Proceedings, or the Claim No and relevant Court).
  • Identify who you are instructed on behalf of / act for. Do not forget to state the obvious that you act for a claimant, defendant or another (e.g. Part 20).
  • Explain any relevant insurer involvement and funding.  If this relates to Counsel’s fees then state this very clearly.
  • If there is a Court hearing then provide full details. If you feel general then include a copy of the Notice of Hearing received from the Court.
  • Refer to and label enclosures. Once prepared, feel free to tab these clearly to help your barrister out. If you are really helpful then collating these with page numbering is even better…”

 

4. Get to the “meat of the case”.

 

  • Provide the background to the claim. Start with the factual points that are NOT in dispute between the parties.  If you could provide a chronology of events then it will be gratefully received (so long as it’s accurate).
  • The claim may have been responded to by the opponent. Summarise their position and refer to any relevant letters or documents that either support or undermine their case.
  • If you have a witness statement, or taken a proof of evidence from a witness, then make sure this is explained.
  • Always refer to expert evidence if this is required. Make sure any reports are referenced and show willingness for Counsel to have a conference with the expert, or at least raise questions that need to be clarified.
  • If documents are outstanding and to follow, then make this clear (e.g. a FOI request to a local authority).
  • Then identify the legal basis of the claim.   What is pleaded, or which areas do you consider relevant?  Counsel welcomes your preliminary thoughts, whether you are correct or completely negligent. It assists the barrister in knowing how they can frame their response.  Here is a clue, if you come across well on your instructions or brief, Counsel is likely to simply e-mail you what you need, or have a short telephone call.

5. Know what to ask for

“If you need specific advice on an area of law or evidence then state these as direct questions. Do not make your instructions “fluffy”.”

 

CUNNINGHAM-HILL AND ELDER: CIVIL LITIGATION

There is a whole section online of “Guide for Preparing Instructions to Counsel”

There are 16 pages here of invaluable guidance.

“When Counsel receives a set of instructions or a brief, the documents he or she receives will form the entirety of what he or she needs to deal with the matters being asked of him or her. Unlike legal representatives who have a more ‘hands-on’ role of the case file as a whole, Counsel with be taking a searchlight view of a particular aspect (that he or she is being asked to deal with) and will have no other information about the case, or documents, other than the information supplied to him or her with the brief or instructions. This applies even when Counsel has been engaged previously in the matter. Each set of instructions must be complete and contain all that Counsel needs for the particular action being asked of him or her”

WIGAPEDIA

Wigapedia on Legal Cheek  What your Instructions say Vs. what they mean

 

18. “The Client has a number of witnesses” = The client has a large extended family”

OTHER GUIDANCE