Changes to Public Access rules come into effect today, as the
Bar Standards Board (BSB) announces the appointment of the Bar
Council and HJT to deliver new Public Access training schemes. The
BSB also expects to be approving other providers shortly.
From today, existing Public Access barristers will have up to 24
months to undertake additional top-up training or cease to conduct
Public Access work.
For the first time, as of today junior barristers of fewer than 3
years' practising experience will be able to undertake Public
Access work if they complete the new Public Access training. They
will then be required to:
- maintain a log of Public Access cases they have dealt with, including any issues or problems which have arisen;
- make this log available, on request, to the BSB for review; and
- to seek feedback from their Public Access clients on the service provided;
Head of Professional Practice, Ewen Macleod said: "The new
changes mean that clients will be able to access a broader range of
Public Access barristers and can be more confident of the standard
of service they will receive."
Any barrister who, two years from now, undertakes Public Access
work without meeting the additional training requirements will be
in breach of the Code of Conduct and could be subject to
disciplinary action.
A small number of existing Public Access barristers may be
eligible for a waiver from the top-up training, but they must apply
for this. Those most likely to be eligible for a waiver will be
able to demonstrate extensive experience of undertaking Public
Access work and Legal Aid cases involving vulnerable clients, and
the associated knowledge and understanding required.
For more information about changes to the rules, barristers are
advised to visit: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/publicaccess
or email us at [email protected].
For further information about the training schemes, barristers
should contact the Bar Council or HJT via the details below.
ENDS
Notes to editor
Contact details for the HJT Office are: 020 3405 2942 or
[email protected]. Contact details for the Bar Council
are: 0207 611 1472 or [email protected]
The Public Access scheme allows a barrister, with the approved
Public Access training, to be instructed directly by a member of
the public without the need for a solicitor.
Contact: the Bar Standards Board Press Office on 0207 611
1452
