The Legal Services Board (LSB) has approved the changes to the Bar Standards Board (BSB) Handbook rules, which will pave the way for new data collection and updated complaints handling rules. These changes reflect the LSB’s statutory requirements and guidance issued in May 2024 on complaints handling and follows our public consultation on proposals and subsequent report, published last October.
The new rules will be effective from 15 June 2026, to give the profession four months to prepare for these new rules and arrangements. We will then wait at least a year before running the first data collection exercise.
Today, we are publishing the BSB Handbook rule changes, the first-tier complaints data collection policy statement and supporting guidance.
Mark Neale, Director General, The Bar Standards Board said:
“This change to the rules will support our work with the profession to maintain and improve the Bar’s complaints’ handling arrangements.
Working through chambers, we aim to establish a proportionate, routine system for collecting information about complaints that delivers meaningful insights without placing undue burdens on the profession. We will provide support and guidance to chambers to meet these requirements.”
