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Barristers predict the amount of public access work they do will go up, according to a survey from the regulators.
Commissioned jointly by the Bar Standards Board and the Legal Services Board (LSB), the report, Research into the public access scheme, revealed that 5,695 – more than a third of the practising profession – are registered for public access work.
Half (54%) had dealt with one to five cases in the past 12 months, while only 2% have undertaken 50 or more cases.
On average, for around 60% of the 404 respondents, public access work accounted for one to 10% of their fee income.
The researchers acknowledged that the figures were small, but said they represent a significant increase over the past three years, and suggested the volumes will rise.
Respondents suggested that consumers lacked awareness of the scheme and, while some suggested it should be more widely publicised, there was a reluctance to do so overtly or without an assurance in any marketing that the scheme was not a threat to solicitors.
LSB head of research and development Steve Brooker, said: ‘While representing a relatively small proportion of a barristers’ caseload it is, nonetheless, growing.’
He said consumers are starting to see the benefits of ‘wider choice, improved timeliness of access to services and lower costs’.
Barristers predict the amount of public access work they do will go up, according to a survey from the regulators.
Commissioned jointly by the Bar Standards Board and the Legal Services Board (LSB), the report, Research into the public access scheme, revealed that 5,695 – more than a third of the practising profession – are registered for public access work.
Half (54%) had dealt with one to five cases in the past 12 months, while only 2% have undertaken 50 or more cases.
On average, for around 60% of the 404 respondents, public access work accounted for one to 10% of their fee income.
The researchers acknowledged that the figures were small, but said they represent a significant increase over the past three years, and suggested the volumes will rise.
Respondents suggested that consumers lacked awareness of the scheme and, while some suggested it should be more widely publicised, there was a reluctance to do so overtly or without an assurance in any marketing that the scheme was not a threat to solicitors.
LSB head of research and development Steve Brooker, said: ‘While representing a relatively small proportion of a barristers’ caseload it is, nonetheless, growing.’
He said consumers are starting to see the benefits of ‘wider choice, improved timeliness of access to services and lower costs’.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Switching from a physical blue book to OneNote is simple, secure and game-changing, says Elizabeth Bowden – you’ll wonder how you managed without it...
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
