The Bar Standards Board was established in January 2006 as a result of the Bar Council separating its regulatory and representative functions. As the independent regulatory board of the Bar Council, we are responsible for regulating barristers called to the Bar in England and Wales. We take decisions independently and in the public interest and are not prejudiced by the Bar Council's representative function.

Our purpose is to promote and maintain excellence in the quality of legal services provided by barristers to support the rule of law. We do this by setting standards of entry to the profession and by ensuring that professional practice puts consumers first.

Representation, support and services for barristers in England and Wales, including guidance on issues of professional practice, are provided by the Bar Council's representation branch. Click here to visit the Bar Council's website.

Barristers' Register

The Register is an online database which displays the details of all barristers eligible to provide legal services in England and Wales.

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News

CPD Review
(5 February 2010)

The Bar Standards Board has established a working group to review Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for the Bar during 2010.

Barristers debate new ways of providing legal services
(11 January 2010)

Barristers throughout England and Wales are set to engage in a nationwide and thought-provoking debate over how they provide their services.

End of CPD Year – 31 December 2009
(21 December 2009)

All practitioners are required to return a record card indicating the CPD hours that they have completed in 2009 under the New or Established Practitioners Programme.