Bar Standards Board
| Website | http://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk |
| Tribunal rules |
The Council of the Inns of Court Disciplinary Tribunals Rules 2005 |
| Code of Standards, etc | The Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales |
| Grounds for disciplinary proceedings | Professional misconduct Inadequate professional service |
| Powers of administrative suspension? | Yes |
| Settlement/conciliation procedures available? | Yes – only informal |
| Who investigates? | Complaints Commissioner & Complaints Officers |
| Power of entry/search and seizure? | No |
| Power to demand information? | No |
| Pre-trial hearing? | Yes |
| Discovery of documents? | No |
| Pleadings? | No |
| Tribunal | The Disciplinary Tribunal of the Council of the Inns of Court |
| Address |
Clerk to the Disciplinary Tribunal Quadrant Chambers 10 Fleet Street London EC4Y 1AU |
| Legally qualified chairman? | Yes |
| Tribunal includes lay element? | Yes |
| Tribunal has legal assessor/clerk? | Yes |
| Evidence heard on oath? | Yes |
| Prosecution conducted in name of | The Complaints Committee of the Bar Standards Board |
| Prosecution usually conducted by | Barrister from a prosecution panel. |
| Judicial rules of evidence apply? | In modified form |
| Standard of proof | Criminal (professional misconduct) Civil (inadequate professional service) |
| Maximum fine | £5,000 (to be increased to £15,000 in 2009) |
| Costs against prosecutor? | Yes |
| Power to order compensation? | Yes – only for inadequate professional service |
| Compensation limit | £15,000 |
| Proceedings open to public? | Yes |
| Reasons given for decisions? | Yes |
| Published sentencing guidelines | No – to be introduced in 2009 |
| Where are decisions reported? | BSB website, Inns of Court |
| Alternative to full disciplinary proceedings? | Yes |
| Ombudsman | Legal Services Ombudsman See further under Office for the Supervision of Solicitors |
| Appellate tribunal | The Visitors to the Inns of Court |
| Is right of appeal limited? | Fresh evidence may only be called in exceptional circumstances |
| Costs against prosecutor? | Yes |
| Right of appeal to prosecutor? | Yes |
Categories: Examples of disciplinary codes