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Code Guidance
From these pages you can read and download all recent guidance issued by the Bar Standards Board or its committees.
Guidance on Practising Rules and Requirements
This guidance relates to what a barrister must do and what rules they must comply with in order to practise as a barrister. It includes guidance on:
- The application of the Practising Certificate Regulations
- Holding out as a barrister
- Non-practising barristers – the 2006 rules
- Becoming a sole practitioner
- Barristers who are also qualified as notaries
- Barristers acting under a retainer and/or under other novel fee arrangements
Guidance on the Administration of a Barrister’s Practice
This guidance covers the practice administration of barristers both individually and within Chambers. It includes guidance on:
- Barristers leaving chambers
- Door tenants and associate members of chambers
- How Chambers should describe a former member of Chambers who has now become a member of the Judiciary
- Chambers’ complaints handling procedures
- Knowledge management – the future use of counsel’s opinion by solicitors and other intermediaries
- Commission and payment by barristers for work
- Entertainment of solicitors by barristers
Guidance on the Professional Conduct of Barristers
This guidance covers situations that arise during a barrister’s practice including appearing in court, drafting documents and other general professional conduct obligations. It includes guidance on:
- The preparation of defence case statements
- The preparation of witness statements
- Witness preparation – arising from R v Momodou and Limani
- A barrister’s duty when pleading fraud – arising from Medcalf v Mardell
- A barrister’s duty to disclose previous convictions – updated guidance will be provided shortly
- The reporting of professional misconduct of barristers by members of the Bar
- Commenting to the media on cases
- The extent to which a barrister can limit their indemnity insurance liability
- Issuing of documents in Court by a barrister
- Refusing work in criminal cases and in respect of Plea and Case Management Hearings
- The undeeming of Criminal Graduated Fees
