*/
More than 400 complaints were made against barristers last year, with one in ten concerning two members from the same chambers, the annual enforcement report from the Bar Standards Board revealed.
A total of 433 complaints were opened in 2015/16, a 2% fall on the previous year. Of those, 299 were external complaints, received from clients, members of the public, solicitors or other professionals and organisations. The most common allegations were failing to cooperate with the Legal Ombudsman (17%) and discreditable or dishonest conduct (18%).
There were 134 complaints raised by the BSB itself, for breaches of the Handbook.
The report showed that two barristers at one unnamed set accounted for 48 (11%) of all new complaints raised in 2015/16.
Elsewhere in the report, 79% of barristers agreed that the enforcement process was open and fair and only 8% disagreed. But for complainants, 69% disagreed that the process was fair and open and only 14% agreed.
Of the complainants, 69% felt that the BSB had not considered all of the evidence relating to their complaint and 63% disagreed that the reasons for the final outcome were clear.
A BSB spokesperson said: ‘Satisfaction rates correlate with outcomes. There is a high proportion of external complaints which we dismiss, or do not result in a disciplinary tribunal.’ The BSB said it will continue to work with complainants to inform them and manage expectations.
More than 400 complaints were made against barristers last year, with one in ten concerning two members from the same chambers, the annual enforcement report from the Bar Standards Board revealed.
A total of 433 complaints were opened in 2015/16, a 2% fall on the previous year. Of those, 299 were external complaints, received from clients, members of the public, solicitors or other professionals and organisations. The most common allegations were failing to cooperate with the Legal Ombudsman (17%) and discreditable or dishonest conduct (18%).
There were 134 complaints raised by the BSB itself, for breaches of the Handbook.
The report showed that two barristers at one unnamed set accounted for 48 (11%) of all new complaints raised in 2015/16.
Elsewhere in the report, 79% of barristers agreed that the enforcement process was open and fair and only 8% disagreed. But for complainants, 69% disagreed that the process was fair and open and only 14% agreed.
Of the complainants, 69% felt that the BSB had not considered all of the evidence relating to their complaint and 63% disagreed that the reasons for the final outcome were clear.
A BSB spokesperson said: ‘Satisfaction rates correlate with outcomes. There is a high proportion of external complaints which we dismiss, or do not result in a disciplinary tribunal.’ The BSB said it will continue to work with complainants to inform them and manage expectations.
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
Born from a grievance, their research project grew into a book and is now challenging the status quo. Emma Price and Emma-Louise Fenelon reveal the key findings – and the critical next steps
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
