The publication of the final report of the Bar Standards Review Body on 12 September has given the Bar a blueprint for ensuring the highest possible standards of service in years to come.

It has also suggested ways of ensuring that barristers are accountable in line with modern public expectations where poor or inadequate service has fallen short of these standards.The review body was independent of the Bar Council.

When I suggested its establishment in 1993, the aim was for an independent group of eminent lawyers and lay people to look hard at the Bar's existing practices to see how they needed to be improved in the light of changing circumstances, rising public expectations and the report of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice.The Royal Commission had found that whilst in general the standard of advocacy in criminal cases was high, a small number of barristers were 'incompetent, prolix and poorly prepared'.

It was also important for the Bar to respond constructively to the comments of the legal services ombudsman in his annual report for 1992, in which he pointed out that there was no mechanism for a client to complain about a barrister's shoddy work, nor any way to claim compensation.

The Bar's disciplinary procedures, as they stand, cannot provide any form of redress to the public for poor service other than any satisfaction that may arise from disciplinary procedures.Lord Alexander's team, which included Sir John Wickerson, a Past President of the Law Society, and Lord Murray, former secretary- general of the TUC, came to their conclusions after extensive consultation with the Bar, with solicitors, with consumer groups and other interested individuals and organisations including government ministers and departments and the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on education and conduct.

This is one of the reasons why particular weight should be attached to their report.The main focus and emphasis of the report is on prevention rather than cure, ie ensuring standards are high so as to prevent complaints arising.

The report stresses again and again the need for early preparation of cases.

Here both the Bar and solicitors can play a part.

The Lord Chancellor's department also needs to play its role.

Proper payment for early preparation will assist in ensuring that it takes place, and I understand that the Lord Chancellor is sympathetic to this approach.

The report's recommendations that there should be a pre-trial conference in nearly all Crown Court cases where there is a possibility of a not guilty plea is important, as are the recommendations on efficient practice management and on returned briefs.There are a host of other recommendations on continuing education and on restricting in some cases and supervising in others the work of pupil and newly qualified barristers to ensure that young barristers do not take on work beyond their expertise and experience.

All of these will play a major role.

The report encourages judges to make use of the Bar's initiative in 1993, 'Improving standards at the Bar', under which judges should speak to barristers appearing before them and advise them as to any unsatisfactory work.

If unsat isfied by the explanation, the judge should then report the matter to the barrister's head of chambers or other appropriate authority.

Judges in this way would become more of a quality control mechanism for standards of advocacy.The whole philosophy of the report is to make the Bar's services more client driven and client focused.

We must work together with solicitors in providing a first class service to the client that is responsive to the client's needs in the particular case.

The report recommends that the Bar must work closely with solicitors and the Law Society to discuss the most effective ways of working together so as to offer the best all-round efficient and courteous service to the client.

The barrister will increasingly play the role of a specialist member of a legal team, and not the remote and aloof figure which he or she has sometimes seemed to be in the past.I have said that the main focus and purpose of the report is ensuring high standards.

It was inevitable, however, that much attention has focused on the report's recommendations about what should happen when complaints occur.

The aim is to create a system that meets complaints openly and constructively, encourages conciliation, but has the power to direct the repayment of fees or compensation of up to £2000 if appropriate.

There is, of course, a significant cost to these proposals.

However, a modern profession must meet modern expectations, including the expectation that there should be accountability if standards are not met.I welcome this report, and am sure that the Bar is ready to embrace change.

A high quality of service is the key to a flourishing Bar.