The bar must modernise if it is to thrive in the reformed legal services market, its chairman told delegates at the Bar Council's annual conference as he launched a publicity campaign to dispel popular myths about 'bullying' and 'fat cat' barristers.

Stephen Hockman QC said barristers faced the biggest upheaval in their practices in more than a generation with the publication of the Legal Services Bill. 'Society no longer respects tradition for its own sake. Any profession must continually demonstrate its value in the public interest, and must be prepared to accept scrutiny on a hitherto unprecedented scale.'


Referring to the proposed legal services board, the chairman called on the government to fulfil its commitment to the independence of the profession. He also urged ministers to adopt the findings of the Carter report on legal aid procurement.


Mr Hockman said the bar must not merely adapt to change, but show publicly that it has done so. He outlined measures to enhance the reputation of the profession, including a pamphlet intended to demystify the work of barristers and rebut six harmful myths about the profession.


The chairman called on the bar to remain united. He said: 'The most acute danger for the profession in years to come will be the risk of fragmentation.'