Supervising barristers

“Risky” chambers will be identified and given extra regulatory support under a new supervisory scheme for barristers.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) will assess how well chambers and sole practitioners are managing potential risks, and those identified as “high risk” will be given extra support to ensure non-compliance does not recur. 

Low-risk chambers, on the other hand, will have little contact with the BSB.

The new scheme begins in January, and the BSB will send chambers an “impact audit survey” in the spring to gauge the effect any breach of the regulatory rules would have on the public. Chambers will then complete a “supervision return form”, showing how they manage potential risks.

BSB head of quality Oliver Hanmer says: “We all know that prevention is better than cure.”

Perceived risks include poor client service, ineffective governance, lack of equality and diversity, incompetent or dishonest financial management, and inadequate pupillage or training.

Stephen Dale, author of the Pupillage Blog, which offers advice to those seeking a career at the Bar, says he welcomes “any safeguards to prevent inadequate or unfair pupillage or training”.

“From the perspective of the pupil who has attained pupillage with a set, their training and ongoing mentoring is crucial to their success as an advocate.”

The BSB advises chambers to ensure their records are up-to-date, appoint a member as a point of contact with the regulator, and be honest and open.

The new scheme replaces the old chambers monitoring system under which chambers were contacted to verify compliance in key areas.