Location and contact

We are committed to providing a high standard of service and dealing with everyone in a way that is fair, transparent and proportionate. We welcome your feedback on our services, particularly where the level of service has exceeded or fallen below your expectations. Your comments and suggestions are important to us as they will help us to meet our obligations to you and to improve our performance. The levels of service that you can expect from us are set out in our What we do section.


Queries and feedback

 

If you have any queries, or would like to provide feedback, you can

Email us: contactus@barstandardsboard.org.uk  or fill in the form below

       

 

Write to us:
Bar Standards Board
289-293 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7HZ
DX: 240 LDE

Phone us:  020 7611 1444

Fax us: 020 7831 9217

Contact the Bar Standards Board Press Office

Location map:

 

 

Formal Complaints

We can provide literature in different formats such as Braille, large print or on audio tape or compact disc. Please contact us if you need assistance with making a complaint.

What is a complaint?

A complaint is made when you tell us that you are dissatisfied with the way we have carried out our work, and require us to respond or take action. Complaints may be made about any aspect of the service we have provided, for example:

  • mistakes or lack of care
  • misleading information or signposting
  • unreasonable delay in responding or taking action
  • unprofessional behaviour or attitude
  • discrimination
  • lack of integrity

We have different systems for dealing with the following:

  • Complaints about a barrister - Visit our Concerns about a barrister section
  • Comments about Committee or Hearing decisions, or the conduct of our Board or Committee members - Please email us with your comments 

There are some circumstances where we will not investigate a complaint. For example if it:

  • is received after three months of the events that are being complaining about (unless in exceptional circumstances such as those relating to maternity or disability)
  • has been previously been made to us about the same issue;
  • is thought to be frivolous, vexatious or malicious
  • is made by a third party/representative without prior authority from the complainant

 

How to make a complaint

 

In the first instance you can contact the members of staff that you have been dealing with, or alternatively:

You can submit our complaints form by

Post:
BSB Director
Bar Standards Board
289-293 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7HZ

Email: contactus@barstandardsboard.org.uk

We are also able to receive complaints by phone: 0207 611 1491

 

What we need to know

 

Please provide us with:

  • a clear description of the complaint, who has been involved so far and what you would like us to do to sort things out;
  • your full postal address, telephone number and email address;
  • copies of any relevant documents or emails.

 How we will deal with your complaint

 

You will receive an acknowledgement that your complaint has been received within four working days. You will also be advised who is dealing with your complaint and how they can be contacted.

Your complaint will be fully investigated and we will keep you informed of progress. A full reply can be expected within 20 working days with details of any appropriate and reasonable remedies. If it is not possible to provide a full response within this timeframe, you will be contacted with an explanation and with a date by which you can expect a full response.

If you are not satisfied with the response received from us, you can ask for the matter to be reviewed within 3 weeks of receiving a full response from us Please tell us the reason why you are dissatisfied.

If it is the BSB Director that has reviewed your complaint, they will provide you with a full response and this decision is final.

 

Complaints about the Director

 

If you have a complaint about the BSB Director you should send your complaint to the Chair of the Bar Standards Board:

Baroness Ruth Deech
Bar Standards Board
289-293 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7HZ

Phone: 0207 611 1422

Email: ChairBSB@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk

 

Remedies

 

If your complaint is upheld, this may result in one or more of the following remedies:

  • a full acknowledgement and explanation of any poor service
  • an apology
  • appropriate action to rectify the situation
  • appropriate action to improve our services