In April 2025 we published our Tech At the Bar Report. This research study captures how barristers and chambers adopt and use technology in their practice. The report highlights the challenges barristers face in adopting technology as well as the unique opportunities for innovation at the Bar.
Regulatory Action Diversity Analysis Report (2025)
In March 2025 we published research analysing the outcomes of reports regarding barrister conduct received and processed1 by us. By reports, we mean concerns about the conduct of a barrister that are reported to us. This research details how likely barristers are to be subject to a report, with a particular focus on the characteristics of ethnicity and gender.
Regulatory Decisions Report (Annual, 2024)
In October 2024, we published the latest of our Regulatory Decisions Report. They provide an overview of the wide range of decisions taken by us in relation to our operations, and legal and enforcement work. This include areas such as investigations and disciplinary action, the supervision of chambers, and the authorisation of education and training providers. For historic reports, please see here.
Coroner’s Court Competences and Toolkit - Evaluation report (2024)
An evaluation was carried out to determine the extent to which the competences for practitioners in the Coroners' Courts and the associated toolkit published in 2021 have met the overarching objectives of the initial project. Evaluation work looked at awareness of these resources at the Bar and among key stakeholders and whether they have contributed to improving standards in the Coroners’ Courts.
Transparency Rules Evaluation – Impact on the Profession (2021)
In October 2021, we published a report on the impact of the Bar transparency rules on the profession. The Bar transparency rules are designed to improve the information available to the public before they engage the services of a barrister and to help them find the information they need to make informed decisions about barristers’ services. While most barristers’ practices have complied with the rules, the report reveals that compliance testing in 2020 and 2021 shows that there were still a significant minority who were not fully compliant with the rules.
Statistical analysis of the outcomes of complaints about barristers (2021)
In July 2021, we published a statistical analysis of the outcomes of complaints made about barristers in England and Wales, and the likelihood of barristers being subject to a complaint, between January 2015 and October 2019.
Assessment of the current regulations of the provision of PII to barristers (2016)
Published in April 2016. The BSB commissioned Oxera to undertake an economic analysis of the current regulatory arrangements for the provision of professional indemnity insurance (PII) to barristers, in the context of the thematic review by the Legal Services Board (LSB) on the provision of PII to legal services providers. This analysis informed the BSB's consideration of regulations concerning the obligation to take primary PII cover from the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF).
Research into the Public Access Scheme (2016)
Published in April 2016. Findings from a survey of public access barristers commissioned jointly by the BSB and the Legal Services Board (LSB) provide a detailed picture of the current provision of legal services through the public access scheme, perceptions about the operation of the current regulatory arrangements and of the impacts of recent reforms.
Complaints at the Bar: An analysis of ethnicity and gender (2016)
Published in January 2016 - A statistical report which analyses three years of data to investigate factors contributing to differences across gender and ethnicity in the numbers of complaints made, and the outcomes of complaints. The BSB has been monitoring these issues since 2007 but the report analyses the data in greater depth than previously.
