The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has created an expert reference group, made up of 12 organisations and individuals including, Bar Council, the Criminal Bar Association, Rape Crisis, Ministry of Justice RASSO unit, Crown Prosecution Service, Centre for Women’s Justice and End Violence Against Women Coalition, to support the development of specialist standards for barristers acting in rape and serious sexual offence (RASSO) cases.
RASSO cases often involve complex evidence, challenging legal and ethical judgments, and issues that require careful, trauma-informed advocacy. Where advocacy standards are inconsistent or fall short, the consequences can be serious. These can include re-traumatisation, loss of confidence in the justice process, and unsafe outcomes.
Through this work, with input from the group, the BSB will define the specialist knowledge, skills, and attributes needed for effective RASSO advocacy. The work aims to help ensure fair outcomes, protect the interests of those involved, uphold public confidence in the criminal justice system, and support RASSO barristers.
Chris Bones, Chair of the Bar Standards Board, said:
“Barristers working in RASSO cases are dealing with some of the most complex and sensitive issues in our criminal justice system. Our aim is to provide clear specialist standards, backed by practical support, so that barristers are well supported to deliver the high-quality advocacy these cases require. That matters to everyone involved in these cases and to public confidence in the criminal justice process.”
Katrin Hohl OBE, Co-Chair of the group, Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice at City St. George’s, University of London and Independent Advisor to the UK government on Criminal Justice Responses to Sexual Violence, said:
“Rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) cases demand specialist knowledge, skills, and attitudes from the legal profession. This is especially so because counsel conduct towards RASSO complainants in the courtroom can have profound impacts on their experience of procedural fairness and mental health. There is also growing evidence that a lack of trauma-informed RASSO practice puts barristers’ own mental well-being at risk.
I welcome the Bar Standards Board's decision to develop a specialist RASSO competencies framework that sets RASSO-specific competencies and standards. I am delighted to be co-chairing the advisory board and hope this work will improve courtroom experiences for complainants and counsel alike."
In support of this initiative, Alex Davies-Jones MP, Minister for Violence Against Women and Girls, said:
“Rape cases are incredibly traumatising and complex, putting enormous strain not just on victims but also requiring specialist skills and resilience from lawyers.
I’m particularly pleased to see the Bar Standards Board starting this crucial work to better equip barristers to handle such delicate and difficult cases – helping deliver faster and fairer justice for victims.”
