Bar Standards Board Regulation

Regulated by the Bar Standards Board

All barristers practising at Astons Law Chambers are regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the independent regulatory body for barristers in England and Wales. This page explains what the BSB is, the professional standards we are required to meet, and how you can verify our barristers' credentials using the official BSB Barristers’ Register. Our commitment to maintaining the high standards set by the BSB is central to our client-focused approach.

What Is the Bar Standards Board?

The Bar Standards Board is the organisation responsible for regulating barristers and their professional practice. Its mission is to regulate the Bar in the public interest, promoting high standards of practice, protecting consumers of legal services, and ensuring the rule of law is upheld. It operates independently from the barristers it regulates to ensure its decisions are impartial.

What Does the Bar Standards Board Do?

The BSB's role is wide-ranging and includes several key functions to protect the public and maintain trust in the legal profession. It:

Sets the education and training requirements for becoming a barrister.
Sets the continuing professional development standards that barristers must meet throughout their careers.
Authorises barristers to practise by issuing annual practising certificates.
Monitors the service and competence of barristers to ensure they comply with regulations.
Investigates and takes enforcement action in response to complaints about barristers who may have breached the professional code of conduct.

BSB Handbook and Code of Conduct

Every barrister must adhere to the rules and principles set out in the BSB Handbook. At the heart of the Handbook are ten Core Duties that form the foundation of professional practice. All barristers at Astons Law Chambers are bound by these duties:

CD1: You must observe your duty to the court in the administration of justice.
CD2: You must act in the best interests of each client.
CD3: You must act with honesty, and with integrity.
CD4: You must maintain your independence.
CD5: You must not behave in a way which is likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in you or in the profession.
CD6: You must keep the affairs of each client confidential.
CD7: You must provide a competent standard of work and service to each client.
CD8: You must not discriminate unlawfully against any person.
CD9: You must be open and co-operative with your regulators.
CD10: You must take reasonable steps to manage your practice, or carry out your role within your practice, competently and in such a way as to achieve compliance with your legal and regulatory obligations.

Professional Conduct vs. Service Complaints

It is important to understand the difference between the Bar Standards Board and the Legal Ombudsman, as they handle different types of complaints.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) handles complaints about:

A barrister's professional conduct and behaviour.
Serious ethical violations, such as dishonesty or discrimination.
Breaches of the BSB Handbook or the Core Duties.

The Legal Ombudsman handles complaints about:

The quality of service you received from a barrister.
Issues such as poor communication, unreasonable delays, or problems with fees.

If you have a complaint about the service you received, you should first raise it with us through our complaints procedure. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can then escalate it to the Legal Ombudsman. If your concern is about professional misconduct, you can report it directly to the BSB.

The Barristers’ Register

What Is the Barristers’ Register?

The Barristers' Register is an online, public database run by the BSB. It is the official and most accurate source of information about all barristers authorised to practise in England and Wales. It allows you to check a barrister's details and regulatory history.

What Information Is on the Register?

When you search for a barrister, the Register will show:

Their full name and the date they were Called to the Bar.
Their practising status and whether they hold a current practising certificate.
Their registered practising address (their chambers).
Whether they are authorised to conduct litigation.
Whether they are qualified to accept instructions directly from the public (Public Access).
Any current disciplinary findings against them.
Any past disciplinary findings, which are published for a set period.

How to Search the Barristers’ Register

Go to the BSB Barristers' Register website.
Enter the barrister’s name into the search box.
Click "Search" to view their record.
You can use the advanced search options to filter by location or practice area.

Link to Barristers’ Register

You can access the register here:
https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/search-a-barristers-record.html

Disciplinary Findings

If a barrister has been found to have committed professional misconduct, the BSB will publish the finding on the barrister's record in the Register. The duration for which a finding is published depends on its seriousness. The absence of any disciplinary findings on a barrister's record means that either no findings have been made against them or that any past findings are outside the BSB’s publication periods.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

All practising barristers are required by the BSB to have professional indemnity insurance. This insurance is provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF) and is designed to protect clients. It covers claims for financial loss that may arise from professional negligence. The BSB sets minimum cover levels to ensure that clients have a route to compensation if things go wrong.

BSB Entities Register

Some legal practices are set up as BSB-regulated entities. Astons Law Chambers is a traditional set of chambers, not a BSB entity. The BSB Entities Register lists all authorised bodies and can be found on the BSB website:
https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-barristers/authorisation-to-practise/entities/register-of-bsb-entities.html

Checking Our Barristers

We encourage all current and prospective clients to use the Barristers’ Register to verify the regulatory status of any barrister at Astons Law Chambers. You can confirm their practising status, check for any disciplinary findings, and see if they are qualified to accept instructions directly from the public under the Public Access scheme. If you search for one of our barristers and have any questions about the information you find, please contact us for clarification.

BSB Contact Details

Website: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
Phone: 020 7611 1444
Email: contactus@barstandardsboard.org.uk
Address: Bar Standards Board, 289-293 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7HZ

Why Regulation Matters

Regulation by the BSB exists to provide crucial protection for the public. It ensures that barristers are properly trained, competent, and adhere to a strict ethical code. This framework builds public trust and confidence in the legal system, giving you assurance that you are being represented by a qualified and accountable professional.

Questions About Regulation?

We are committed to transparency and are happy to answer any questions you may have about our regulatory status. Please feel free to get in touch.

This information is reviewed at least annually. Last reviewed: November 2025.