Bar Standards Board provides update on future of barrister training
updated on 27 July 2018
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has published its latest annual report summarising activities over 2017-18.
The key points are that the BSB is:
- continuing with its Future Bar Training programme, including consulting on the rules governing pupillage and the role of the Inns of Court in the training of barristers;
- responding to the Competition and Markets Authority’s recommendations to consult on the introduction of new transparency standards for the Bar, so consumers can make more informed decisions about barristers’ services;
- changing the standard of proof applied in professional misconduct proceedings from the criminal to the civil standard to bring its disciplinary arrangements in line with most other professions;
- beginning to implement a new regulatory approach for barristers working in the youth courts, so that the BSB can work closely with them to help improve advocacy standards for young people; and
- publishing new guidance for the public and for professionals on immigration and asylum related legal issues.
Dr Vanessa Davies, director-general of the BSB said: “We made real progress during 2017-18 and achieved success in many key areas of our regulation, including completing many important aspects of our review into the system by which new barristers train and qualify. We are now in the final year of the current three-year strategic plan and I look forward to working with our stakeholders to decide how best to develop our new strategy beyond 2019.”
