The Bar Council unveiled proposals to separate its regulatory and representative functions this week in response to the recommendations made by Sir David Clementi in his review of legal services.

The shake-up put out to consultation would see the creation of an independent bar standards board (BSB), which would provide independent supervision of all regulatory matters relating to barristers.


The BSB would be completely ring-fenced from representative interests within the Bar Council and required to act in the interests of the bar's professional and lay clients.


It would consist of a chairman and a vice-chairman - one of whom must be a barrister with 20 years' practising experience and the other a layman - together with six lay and seven professional members.


The Bar Council would remain the single governmental and representative body for the bar in England and Wales, handling issues such as ethics, policy, practice development and law reform.


Guy Mansfield QC, chairman of the Bar Council, said: 'We foresee an easily accessible, consumer-friendly body, able to take forward best practice in regulation, while retaining the significant public interest benefits to be achieved by a profession having a clear stake in the maintenance of standards.'


A bar spokesman said the proposals would be put to the Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer. If accepted, legislation is expected next year to establish a framework for the changes.


  • The Law Society is advertising this week for chairs and members of its new regulation and consumer complaints boards. The chairs will receive £60,000 per annum for two to three days per week. Other members will receive a minimum of £4,000 for on average 12 days per year. See here.