Susan Jacklin QC, Chair of the Access to the Bar Committee, examines the growing interest of the Bar in public access work
For 20 years now it has been recognised that there should be access to the Bar’s specialist skills by those individuals and organisations who have the necessary skills and knowledge to do so, but without instructing a solicitor. Accountants, tax specialists, insolvency practitioners, architects, surveyors, actuaries and engineers took up this opportunity under the Direct Professional Access (“DPA”) scheme. Some will recall that this became “Bar Direct” and in 2004 “Licensed Access”. Since that time the range of organisations and individuals who have been granted licences by the Bar Standards Board (“BSB”) has grown enormously. Any barrister is entitled to accept instructions from a licensed access client, subject to compliance with Annex F1 of the Code of Conduct (the “Code”).