The Bar Standards Board (BSB) this week proposed the abolition of the 'cab-rank rule' in a consultation on changes to be made in relation to the Legal Services Act 2007.
The Act will enable barristers to work in partnership with non-lawyers and deliver services direct to the public through alternative business structures (ABSs) or legal disciplinary partnerships (LDPs).
The document proposes abolishing the cab-rank rule for barristers working in these new structures. The rule is regarded as promoting access to justice and protecting a barrister's independence. However, the BSB considers that it could create too many problems in LDPs and ABSs, where management rather than individual barristers may decide which cases are taken on.
BSB chairwoman Ruth Evans said: 'We may not see barristers selling their services in the supermarket aisles quite yet, but we can expect changes in the way some organise their affairs.'
She said it was the BSB's duty to facilitate the diverse range of options in the Act.
Bar Council chairman Tim Dutton QC said the council would hear the profession's views before responding to the consultation.
Catherine Baksi
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