The Bar

Historically barristers have always enjoyed a somewhat different relationship with those responsible for their conduct, and even today, although they are primarily regulated by the Bar Standards Board, nevertheless the individual Inns of Court play an important role, not only in their education and training but also in ensuring that barristers meet required standards of conduct. Indeed, the Inns have a role in administering disciplinary tribunals to deal with more serious complaints against barristers and a person can only be a barrister if he or she has been “Called to the Bar” by an Inn of Court.

The Legal Services Act 2007 has, however, started to impact more fundamentally upon the regulatory duties and responsibilities of barristers and many, especially those who choose to work in multi-disciplinary partnerships with other qualifying lawyers, are finding that they need to be far more aware of issues of conduct – even issues affecting other branches of the legal profession.

The Lawyers Defence Group can assist all members of the Bar, not only in relation to regulatory and conduct related matters, but also with issues of management, finance, employment and in relation to their membership of Legal Disciplinary Partnerships.

You will also find helpful links to other information provided by organisations such as the Bar Council, Bar Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and other regulators and professional bodies as well as news items, current information and regulatory and conduct related case reports.

To find the information you require, use the drop down menus above or if there is a particular topic with which you require help, use the search box to the right of this page.

If there are specific issues which concern you, then please contact the Lawyers Defence Group and we will arrange for you to be put in touch with a suitably qualified person who can assist you with you. You can contact the Lawyers Defence Group:

• by telephone during office hours – 0333 888 4070
• out of hours in an emergency – for example if a partner has been arrested or you believe that your firm might be about to be intervened in – on our emergency phone number 07952 861 868
• by email on help [Email address: help #AT# lawyersdefencegroup.org.uk - replace #AT# with @ ]
• if you are a registered user of the web site, by completing and submitting the free, no obligation, call-back form to the right of this text following which someone from the Lawyers Defence Group will get back to you at a time which is convenient to you, or
• by writing to us at Lawyers Defence Group, Richard Nelson LLP, 8 The Courtyard, 707, Warwick Road, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 3DA