The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has today published the latest Independent Decision-making Body Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2024. This is the fifth Annual Report of the Independent Decision-making Body (IDB). The IDB is responsible for making decisions on behalf of the BSB where an independent perspective is required. The IDB reviews enforcement cases before they are submitted to a disciplinary tribunal. It also reviews decisions taken by the executive in response to applications to waive BSB’s rules or to issue, amend or revoke a practising certificate.
Key facts from the 2023-2024 report include:
- The Fieldfisher review of the BSB’s end-to-end enforcement process made five recommendations which were made mainly directed at the IDB having greater authority to shape its work including its procedures and the support provided by the Executive.
- 88 enforcement cases were considered in the period, versus 98 in the previous period. There were an identical number of authorisations applications in the period (17) as with the previous one.
- Of the enforcement cases 52 were referred to disciplinary action, 8 had administrative sanctions imposed and 18 saw allegations dismissed: In the previous year, these figures were 51, 16 and 16 respectively.
- Of the authorisations cases 5 culminated in previous decisions being upheld and 5 resulted in decisions of the BSB Executive being overturned: in the previous year, these figures were 7 and 8 respectively.
- There were 2 reviews of IDB decisions carried out by the Independent reviewer (IR) in the reporting period.
- In terms of appeals, there were 4 appeals in total. There was one appeal against an administrative sanction. This was successful with the Appeal Panel disagreeing with the IDB panel’s assessment of evidence.
- In relation to authorisations cases, there were 3 statutory appeals filed in the High Court. Two of these appeals were concluded on agreed terms (one was allowed by the Court and one was dismissed), and the other was struck out.
Commenting on the report, IDB Chair Tim Grey, said:
“This report spans a period of consolidation for the IDB. After a period of considerable change and upheaval, caused in large part by factors beyond the control of the IDB and the BSB, the twelve months captured in this report has provided an opportunity to adopt the best working practices identified in the previous twelve-month period to enable ever more efficient, thorough and fair decision-making. I should like to offer my thanks to all the members of the IDB for their support during this period. I am always humbled by the effort of the professional and lay members alike, who give so freely of their experience and time to protect the public and the reputation of our profession. I should also like to thank our colleagues at the BSB who have supported our work with forbearance and diligence. I look forward to continuing to work with them all over the coming year”.
You can read the IDB Report 2023-2024 on the BSB website. The Bar Standards Board has also today published its Regulatory Decision-Making Annual Report 2023-24 which provides an overview of decisions taken by the BSB in relation to its regulatory operations, and legal and enforcement work in the year to 31 March 2024.
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Notes to editors
About the Bar Standards Board
Our mission is to regulate barristers and specialised legal services businesses in England and Wales in the public interest. For more information about what we do visit: http://bit.ly/1gwui8t
About the IDB
The Independent Decision-making Body (IDB) makes decisions about cases passed to the Investigations and Enforcement Department for investigation that may require disciplinary action and determines appeals against authorisation decisions.
About the Regulatory Decision-Making Report
The Regulatory Decision-Making Report provides an overview of decisions taken by the BSB in relation to its regulatory operations, and legal and enforcement work in the year to 31 March 2024.
Contact: For all media enquiries call: 07432 713 328 or email [email protected].
