BSB should revisit decision on targets for processing complaints, says Bar Council Chair

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has accepted the recommendations in the Fieldfisher report on enforcement processes.

Commenting, Chair of the Bar Council Sam Townend KC said:

"The Fieldfisher report revealed some striking deficiencies in the enforcement processes of the BSB.

"The BSB has not been meeting its 25 week target for completing 80% of its investigations. Fieldfisher set out recommendations which they say will allow the BSB to meet that target. We welcome those recommendations.

“In that context we question the BSB’s recent decision, made without public consultation, to water down that target to 38 weeks. We are seeking that the BSB revisit this decision and hold a proper consultation in circumstances where complainants and barrister respondents have told Fieldfisher their main concern is the excessive time taken by the BSB to process complaints. 

“We also repeat our call on the BSB to concentrate all its efforts on improving performance in its core enforcement and authorisation responsibilities, and leave off the ever increasing ‘before the event’ compliance activities which it continues to impose on practitioners.”