The Bar Council has warned barristers against ‘bending the truth’ on personal or chambers websites.

Its Ethics Committee said barristers must not make false claims, which includes not misleading, or attempting to mislead, anyone knowingly or recklessly. ‘Bending the truth in claims about one’s knowledge, experience or abilities is unacceptable.’

Counsel can use quotations or descriptions from legal directories about themselves and their chambers, providing it is not done in a misleading way. And where counsel has appeared in a criminal case that results in an acquittal, ‘careful thought’ should be given to using the defendant’s name in marketing material.