Barristers & Complaints Flashcards
(22 cards)
Who regulates barristers?
The Bar Standards Board (BSB).
Who oversees the Bar Standards Board?
The Legal Services Board.
Who represents barristers?
The Bar Council.
How many practising barristers are there in England & Wales?
About 16,500.
How many barristers work for organisations like the CPS?
Around 3,000.
What do most barristers focus on?
Advocacy.
Where do most barristers work?
They are self-employed and work in Chambers.
Name 3 things barristers do besides advocacy.
Draft legal documents.
Legal research.
Advise clients in case conferences.
What is the “cab rank” rule?
A barrister must accept a case in their field for a reasonable fee unless already committed.
What is Bar Direct?
A system that allows clients to approach barristers directly in civil cases.
What does a barrister’s clerk do?
Organises case bookings and allocations for the Chambers.
How many barristers are usually in a Chambers?
Around 15-20.
What is a King’s Counsel (KC)?
A senior barrister (also called “taking silk”) who handles more complex cases.
How long must a barrister practise before becoming KC?
10 years.
How many KCs are there in England & Wales?
About 800.
Do barristers have rights of audience in all courts?
Yes, in all courts in England and Wales.
What is the first step to complain about a barrister?
Complain directly to their Chambers.
If unresolved, where can complaints go next?
To the Legal Ombudsman or the Bar Standards Board, depending on the issue.
What does the Bar Standards Board deal with?
Breaches of the Bar’s Code of Conduct (e.g. dishonesty).
What happens in serious cases of misconduct by a barrister?
The BSB refers the case to a Disciplinary Tribunal.
Who organises the Disciplinary Tribunal?
The Bar Tribunals and Adjudication Service.
Name 4 penalties a Disciplinary Tribunal can give a barrister.
Reprimand.
Order further training.
Fine up to £5000.
Suspend or disbar the barrister.
