Bar pre-reform review underway

06/02/2008

The regulator of legal professions has launched a pre-reform review, Legal Week has reported.

Conducted by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the investigation hopes to establish what changes will have to be made to integrate lawyers and non-lawyers in future legal disciplinary partnerships (LDPs).

BSB chair Ruth Evans said: "These are prospectively once-in-a-generation changes to the way in which barristers are regulated in the public interest."

The Legal Services Act is due to be introduced and the review should help rectify what Charles Hollander QC has called "a complete lack of awareness in the profession".

He went on: "One of the important things is to try to get people to understand what is going on and the fundamental issues facing the Bar."

The BSB regulates more than 14,000 barristers in England and Wales. Its consultation will also try to establish whether it would regulate the new LDP business partnerships.

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