Statement on deliberately failing to attend court
Code Guidance
The purpose of Code Guidance is to assist you in complying with your obligations under the BSB Handbook. You must have regard to Code Guidance. You can download the following Code Guidance by selecting the links below.
- After the event insurance
- Chambers closure
- Clash of hearing dates
- Conducting litigation
- Confidentiality
- First tier complaints handling
- Investigating and collecting evidence and taking witness statements
- Pilot harassment support schemes waivers
- Referral and marketing arrangements
- Reporting serious misconduct of others
- Social Media Guidance
- Guidance on the regulation of non-professional conduct
- Supervising immigration advisers
- Unregistered barristers
Public Access
If you are registered for Public Access work, you can also download our Code Guidance to help you comply with the Public Access Rules in the BSB Handbook:
- Public Access for barristers
- Public Access for clerks
- Public Access model client care letter (no intermediary)
- Public Access model client care letter (no intermediary) – Microsoft Word version
- Public Access model client care letter to intermediary
- Public Access model client care letter to intermediary – Microsoft Word version
- Public Access model client care letter to the client in an intermediary case
- Public Access model client care letter to the client in an intermediary case – Microsoft Word version
- Public Access Guidance for Lay Clients
Transparency Rules
We have published Code Guidance to assist you in complying with the Transparency Rules in the BSB Handbook. You can download the following guidance:
- Introduction to the guidance
- General mandatory transparency rules for all self-employed barristers, chambers and BSB entities
- Additional mandatory rules for those undertaking certain types of Public Access work
- Additional best practice on transparency for all (which goes beyond the mandatory rules)
- Checklists to help with compliance and information about the BSB's supervision and enforcement strategy
- Annexes, templates and examples of best practice
- Annexes, templates and examples of best practice - Microsoft Word version
First-tier Complaints
To support our new data collection and updated complaints handling rules, we have published BSB Handbook rule changes, our first-tier complaints data collection policy statement and supporting guidance. The new rules go into effect 15 June 2026.
