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The terms of reference of the Professional Conduct Committee are:

1. to carry out the functions and exercise the powers of the Bar Council and of the Professional Conduct Committee under:

    a. the Complaints Rules at Annex J to the Code of Conduct;
    b. the Disciplinary Tribunal Regulations at Annex K to the Code of Conduct;
    c. the Interim Suspension Rules at Annex N of the Code of Conduct;
    d. the Fitness to Practise Rules at Annex O of the Code of Conduct; and
    e. the Hearings before the Visitors Rules at Annex M to the Code of Conduct.

2. to respond to and, where appropriate, defend appeals against and other challenges to actions and decisions of the Committee and of disciplinary tribunals and panels constituted under the rules referred to at (1) above;

3. to make recommendations to the Standards Committee or to the Board about matters of professional conduct including changes to rules referred to at (1) above when the Committee considers it appropriate to do so;

4. to grant waivers from requirements of the Code of Conduct where appropriate except those which are the responsibility of the Qualifications Committee; 

5. to liaise, where appropriate, with other BSB Committees, the Inns' Council and any other bodies relevant to the work of the Committee in exercising its functions;

6. to undertake such other tasks as the Board may require; and

7. to report to the Board on its work as and when required.

The membership of the Professional Conduct Committee shall be:

8. A chair and 4 vice chairs. There must be 2 lay and 2 barrister vice chairs. The chair can be either a lay or barrister member;

9. A minimum of 10 lay members and a maximum of 24 lay members, providing at all times there is a barrister majority; and

10. Subject to a minimum of 10, a number of barristers to enable the Committee in the judgment of the Chair to carry out its business expeditiously.