header-logo header-logo

Transparency at the Bar

04 July 2019
Issue: 7847 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Legal services
printer mail-detail
Professional rules compelling barristers to be more transparent about pricing and services have come into force.

Barristers must comply by 1 January 2020, after which the Bar Standards Board (BSB) will conduct spot-checks. The rules, published in a revised edition of the Handbook this week, require all self-employed barristers, chambers and BSB-regulated entities to make certain information publicly available, including which types of legal service they provide, their most commonly used pricing models (such as fixed fee or hourly rate) and details of their clients’ rights of redress. Public Access barristers providing certain types of services are also required to publish additional price and service information.

BSB Director of Strategy and Policy, Ewen MacLeod, said the new rules would ‘enable the public to make more informed decisions before engaging a barrister’. The BSB will focus on ensuring compliance rather than disciplinary action.

Issue: 7847 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Legal services
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Suzie Fisher

Thomson Hayton Winkley—Suzie Fisher

Cumbria firm appoints long-serving lawyer as new managing director

Taylor Wessing—Kim Wedral

Taylor Wessing—Kim Wedral

Employment specialist joins Cambridge office as partner

Mewburn Ellis—Amy Crouch

Mewburn Ellis—Amy Crouch

Patent litigation offering boosted by partner appointment

NEWS
In a special tribute in this week's NLJ, David Burrows reflects on the retirement of Patrick Allen, co-founder of Hodge Jones & Allen, whose career epitomised the heyday of legal aid
Michael Zander KC, Emeritus Professor at LSE, tracks the turbulent passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Lords in this week's issue of NLJ. Two marathon debates drew contributions from nearly 200 peers, split between support, opposition and conditional approval
Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers reflects on the Human Rights Act 1998 a quarter-century after it came into force, in this week's issue of NLJ
In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ, Stephen Gold surveys a raft of procedural changes and quirky disputes shaping civil practice. His message is clear: civil practitioners must brace for continual tweaks, unexpected contentions and rising costs in everyday litigation
Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar 2025 and joint head of chambers at 4PB, sets out in this week's NLJ how the profession will respond to Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bar
back-to-top-scroll