We are committed to an evidence-based approach to policy-making and we take into account the views of anyone who has an interest in the regulation of barristers in England and Wales. We do this through an open consultation process. From this page, you can read our current consultations (if we have any), our past consultations and, where appropriate, our analysis of the responses we received to them. You can also access our responses to other organisations’ consultations.
On 3 September 2024 we launched a public consultation on new rules to promote equality, diversity and inclusion at the Bar. The public consultation will be open until 5PM on Friday 29 November. You can access the full consultation document on our website and you can respond to the consultation questions via this form. We have also published an FAQ document on the consultation which you may find helpful.
The following is a list of links to our past consultations which are now closed. Where indicated, you can also read our summary of the responses we received and any subsequent BSB decisions.
January 2024 - we launched a consultation to seek views on our proposed approach to revising the definition of academic legal training and to dealing with consequential waivers and exemptions.
October 2023 - We issued a consultation document seeking views on our regulatory expectations of chambers.
June 2023 - We issued a consultation seeking views on proposed changes which would widen BSB powers and those of Disciplinary Tribunals to issue interim suspensions. In December 2023 the BSB published a summary of responses to the consultation, and the BSB’s response.
December 2022 - In conjunction with the Bar Council, we published a short consultation paper seeking views on our proposals for the Practising Certificate Fee (PCF) rates for 2023-24.
July 2022 - we published a consultation paper seeking views on our proposed approach to the regulation of non-professional conduct and on barristers’ use of social media. Simultaneously, interim Social Media Guidance was published, which will be updated following the consultation. You can read the summary of consultation responses online.
February 2022 - we published a consultation paper seeking views on a proposal to amend our Minimum Terms of Cover for Professional Indemnity Insurance (PII) to clarify the expected level of cover provided by professional indemnity insurers to barristers in the event of cyber incidents such as errors and omissions in, and the failure and unavailability of, a computer system.
October 2021 - we published a consultation paper seeking views on our strategic priorities and aims for the next three-year period starting in April 2022.
September 2021- we published a consultation paper where we outlined three possible options for the future of the BCAT as a prerequisite for students enrolling on a Bar training course.
Alongside the consultation paper, we also published an evaluation of the performance of the BCAT over time which has prompted us to review whether the BCAT continues to be necessary. The Consultation closed on 31 October 2021.
November 2020 - Consultation on Practising Certificate Fees (PCF) for 2021-22
In conjunction with the Bar Council, we published a short consultation paper seeking views on our proposals for the Practising Certificate Fee (PCF) rates for 2021-22.
We welcomed views on the proposal not to increase PCF and the budget for 2021/22.
October 2019 - Barristers supervising immigration advisers - Rule change consultation October 2019
We sought views on a possible rule change to the BSB Handbook, which sets out the regulatory obligations on barristers.
The rule change would prohibit barristers from supervising immigration advisers who have received certain sanctions from the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC – the regulator of immigration advice and services), an approved legal services regulator, or a designated professional body. This consultation closed on 8 November 2019.
Summary of responses to the consultation.
May 2019 - Engagement Programme – Pupillage Gateway Timetable and Written Agreements for Pupillage
- Our response to the Engagement Programme (published January 2020)
- The decisions we made (published January 2020)
- Supplementary Note to the above consultation (Published on 6 February 2019)
- Analysis of consultation responses and decisions of the Board in March 2019
September 2018 Response to the Competition and Markets Authority's Recommendations
- Introduction to the guidance
- Mandatory transparency rules for all self-employed barristers, chambers and BSB entities
- Additional transparency rules for those undertaking Public Access work
- Checklists to help with compliance, and information about the BSB's supervision and enforcement strategy
- Additional best practice on transparency for all (which goes beyond the mandatory rules)
- Annexes, including examples of required transparency for certain Public Access services
- Summary of responses to the above consultation.
We are often consulted by government and other organisations on matters affecting or having the potential to affect the regulation of barristers. Our responses to such consultations can be found here.
BSB response to HM Treasury consultation on Improving the effectiveness of the Money Laundering Regulations | June 2024 |
BSB response to the Office for Legal Complaints/Legal Ombudsman consultation on their Draft Strategy and Business Plan for 2024-27 | December 2023 |
BSB Response to the Legal Services Board consultation on first-tier complaints | November 2023 |
BSB Response to the OISC consultation on the proposed | October 2023 |
BSB Response - HMT: Reform of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Supervisory Regime | October 2023 |
October 2023 | |
September 2023 | |
September 2023 | |
BSB Response to the Office for AI/DSIT consultation on the “Pro-innovation approach to AI regulation” white paper | June 2023 |
BSB Response - CRL Consultation on Higher Rights of Audience | December 2022 |
September 2022 | |
MOJ Call for Evidence Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation | May 2022 |
Legal Ombudsman Scheme Rules consultation | April 2022 |
Legal Services Board consultation on on-going competence | March 2022 |
Legal Services Board - Business Plan | February 2022 |
Legal Services Board - Draft statement of policy on empowering consumers | December 2021 |
BEIS - Reforming the Framework for Better Regulation | October 2021 |
HM Treasury consultation Amendments to the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 - Statutory Instrument 2022 | October 2021 |
HM Treasury Call for Evidence Review of the UK’s Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Terrorist Financing regulatory and supervisory regime | October 2021 |
Legal Sector Affinity Group Response – AML Call for Evidence | October 2021 |
LSB consultation on proposed rules for applications to alter regulatory arrangements | July 2021 |
Independent Review of Criminal Legal Aid Review | July 2021 |
LSB discussion paper on quality indicators in the legal services market | April 2021 |
Consultation on draft strategy for the legal services sector and draft LSB business plan 2021-22 |
December 2020 |
October 2020 | |
Response to Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) call for input |
October 2020 |
September 2020 | |
BSB response to FCA consultation on changes to the Sourcebook for professional body anti-money laundering Supervisors – criminality checks | July 2020 |
BSB response to LSB consultation on proposed practising fee rules | July 2020 |
BSB response to OPBAS consultation on fee-rate for 2019/20 | September 2019 |
BEIS consultation - Corporate Transparency & Registration Reform - BSB response |
July 2019 |
BSB response - Consultation on the Transposition of 5th Money Laundering Directive |
June 2019 |
April 2019 |
|
December 2018 |
|
BSB response to LSB consultation on Internal Governance Rules |
February 2018 |
January 2018 |
|
October 2017 |
|
September 2017 |
|
August 2017 |
|
Call for Further Information - Oversight of the Anti-money laundering supervisory regime |
April 2017 |
BSB Consultation Response Transposition of the 4th Money Laundering Directive |
April 2017 |
February 2017 |
|
Consultation on Transposition of the 4th Money Laundering Directive |
November 2016 |
October 2016 |
|
BSB response to Ministry of Justice consultation: Legal services: removing barriers to competition |
Aug 2016 |
BSB response to SRA's consultation - Removing barriers to switching regulators |
July 2016 |
Call for information: Anti-Money Laundering Supervisory Regime |
June 2016 |
Consultation Response - Reforming the courts approach to McKenzie Friends |
June 2016 |
BSB response to Legal Services Board consultation about First tier complaints handling |
Apr 2016 |
BSB response to Legal Services Board consultation about practising fees |
Apr 2016 |
BSB response to the Bar Council response to the draft BSB Strategic Plan consultation |
Mar 2016 |
Nov 2015 |
|
Nov 2015 |
|
Nov 2015 |
|
Feb 2015 |
|
Feb 2015 |
|
Apr 2014 |
|
Jan 2014 |
|
Nov 2013 |
|
Nov 2013 |
|
Nov 2013 |
|
BSB submission to Ministry of Justice Legal Services Review Call for Evidence |
Sep 2013 |
Annex 1 to BSB Submission to Ministry of Justice - Call for evidence - Legal Services Review |
Sep 2013 |
Response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on Transforming Legal Aid |
Jun 2013 |
Mar 2013 | |
Response to Legal Ombudsman Consultation: Strategy 2013 -2016, Business Plan 2013-14 |
Feb 2013 |
Response to the SRA's consultation on co-operation agreements |
Jan 2013 |
Response to the OISC's consultation to amend the OISC's code of standards and complaint scheme |
Sep 2012 |
Response to IPS consultation on its approach to risk based regulation |
Aug 2012 |
Response to LSB's consultation on the regulation of special bodies / non-commercial bodies |
Jul 2012 |
Jul 2012 | |
Response to LeO's review of the scheme rules and case fee structure |
Jun 2012 |
Response to the LSB's consultation paper on Approaches to Quality |
May 2012 |
Response to the LSB's Discussion Paper on the Regulation of Immigration Advice and Services |
May 2012 |
BSB response to MoJ Triennial Review of the Office for Legal Complaints and the Legal Services Board |
Mar 2012 |
Mar 2012 | |
Jan 2012 |
The Role of Chambers
We have published a new webpage describing our evolving relationship with chambers as part of a series of consultation activities which are underway.