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The need for barristers appearing in youth courts to register was among a raft of changes announced by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The regulator said that the change, required when barristers renew their practising certificates, would help to ‘promote standards in those proceedings’ and will be welcomed by many barristers who believe youth advocacy should be recognised as a specialism.
The rule changes will require barristers to provide information on their practice areas, including any public access work, and the percentage of income they derive from each area, and to provide the regulator with a unique email address.
The BSB also confirmed that it will not extend the ‘cab rank’ rule to public and licensed access cases, stating that doing so could have an adverse impact on access to justice.
It will remove the requirement for barristers who are of less than three years’ standing to maintain a public access log and make a range of simplifications to make the public and licensed access rules less prescriptive and more proportionate.
Ewen MacLeod, Director of Strategy and Policy at the BSB, said: ‘The new rules regarding authorisation to practise will enable us to improve our regulation of barristers. Our changes to the public and licensed access rules will also further support those clients who instruct the Bar directly.’
He said: ‘We are particularly keen to highlight the important role of those practising in our youth courts and the skills necessary for this kind of work.’
The need for barristers appearing in youth courts to register was among a raft of changes announced by the Bar Standards Board (BSB).
The regulator said that the change, required when barristers renew their practising certificates, would help to ‘promote standards in those proceedings’ and will be welcomed by many barristers who believe youth advocacy should be recognised as a specialism.
The rule changes will require barristers to provide information on their practice areas, including any public access work, and the percentage of income they derive from each area, and to provide the regulator with a unique email address.
The BSB also confirmed that it will not extend the ‘cab rank’ rule to public and licensed access cases, stating that doing so could have an adverse impact on access to justice.
It will remove the requirement for barristers who are of less than three years’ standing to maintain a public access log and make a range of simplifications to make the public and licensed access rules less prescriptive and more proportionate.
Ewen MacLeod, Director of Strategy and Policy at the BSB, said: ‘The new rules regarding authorisation to practise will enable us to improve our regulation of barristers. Our changes to the public and licensed access rules will also further support those clients who instruct the Bar directly.’
He said: ‘We are particularly keen to highlight the important role of those practising in our youth courts and the skills necessary for this kind of work.’
Update from the Chair of the Bar
By David Green
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, examines the forensic science underpinning hair drug testing, its evidential scope and limitations, and why it remains the gold standard for evidencing patterns of drug use in family proceedings
Unlocking your aged debt to fund your tax in one easy step. By Philip N Bristow
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, discusses the upcoming changes to pensions and Inheritance Tax and the potential impact on your financial future
Save the Children UK is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
The Chief Legal Officer to the Metropolitan Police, barrister Brett Welch, tells Anthony Inglese CB about his mission and the work to turn the Met around
Barrister apprenticeships – shortly to provide the fourth pathway to the Bar – are an ideal opportunity to support local talent and ‘grow your own’, say Tim Coulson and Dr Jane Dennehy
Grok around and find out – or not? Mariya Peykova investigates the nudification scandal, what the law has to say about sexually explicit deepfakes, and whether stronger regulation is needed
Oliver Lewis spotlights an overlooked yet rapidly evolving area of law – coercive and controlling behaviour within care contexts
For one night only at Middle Temple Hall (Sunday 26 July 2026) – Abigail Bright introduces the famed annual fundraising theatrical event. This year, Martin Shaw and Jason Watkins perform John Mortimer’s The Dock Brief, a mixture of farce and pathos and all in support of the work of the Kalisher Trust in its 30th year
