Source: http://handbook.barstandardsboard.org.uk/handbook/part-3/
Timestamp: 2018-03-24 11:34:05
Document Index: 723241745

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'arts 1', 'art 34', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 1']

Part 3 - bsb
Section 3.B applies to all BSB regulated persons and unregistered barristers and “You” and “Your” should be construed accordingly. It provides that you must not carry on any reserved legal activity or practise as a barrister unless you are authorised to do so, and explains the different capacities within which you may work if you are so authorised and any limitations on the scope of your practice . It also explains the further requirements which you must follow if you intend to work in more than one capacity.
Section 3.C applies to barristers and registered European lawyers and sets out the basis on which they may apply for a practising certificate which will entitle them to practise within England and Wales.
Section 3.D applies to European lawyers and provides details about how to apply to become a registered European lawyer in England and Wales, thus entitling them to apply for a practising certificate in accordance with the provisions of 3.C.
Section 3.E applies to all entities wishing to be regulated by the BSB and sets out the basis upon which entities may be:
authorised to practise as a BSB authorised body; or
licensed to practise as a BSB licensed body .
Section 3.F applies to all BSB entities. It contains the continuing compliance requirements which apply to them.
B - SCOPE OF PRACTICE RULES
B1 - No Practice Without Authorisation
You must not carry on any reserved legal activity unless you are entitled to do so under the LSA.
f - Guidance to Rule S6
gS1 -
You are not entitled to carry on any reserved legal activity , whether on your own behalf or acting as a manager or employee, unless you are either authorised or exempt in respect of that reserved legal activity . Where you are a manager or employee of a person who, as part of their practice , supplies services to the public or to a section of the public (with or without a view to profit), which consist of, or include, the carrying on of reserved legal activities, that person must also be entitled to carry on that reserved legal activity under the LSA. Authorisation in accordance with this Part 3 permits you to carry on the reserved legal activities specified in your authorisation.
You must not permit any third party who is not authorised to provide reserved legal activities to provide such reserved legal activities on your behalf.
you are an individual and do not have a practising certificate ; or
you are an entity and you have not been authorised or licensed to provide reserved legal activities in accordance with Section 3.E,
you may not practise as a barrister or a registered European lawyer or as a BSB entity (as appropriate); and
you are not authorised by the Bar Standards Board to carry on any reserved legal activity .
rS9 -
For the purposes of this Handbook , you practise as a barrister or a registered European lawyer, or a BSB entity if you are supplying legal services and:
you are an individual and you hold a practising certificate ; or
you hold yourself out as a barrister or a registered European lawyer (as appropriate) or
you are an entity and you have been authorised or licensed to provide reserved legal activities in accordance with Section3.E; or
you act as a manager of, or have an ownership interest in, an authorised (non-BSB) body and as such you are required by the rules of that body’s Approved Regulator to hold a practising certificate issued by the Bar Council (as the case may be).
rS10 -
For the purposes of this Section 3.B1 any reference to the supply of legal services includes an offer to supply such services.
rS11 -
Rule S9.1 above does not apply to you if you are a pupil in the non-practising six months of pupillage if and insofar as you accept a noting brief with the permission of your pupil supervisor or head of chambers or HOLP .
rS12 -
If you are an unregistered barrister or registered European lawyer but do not hold a practising certificate and you supply legal services in the manner provided for in Rules S13, S14 and S15 below, then you shall not, by reason of supplying those services:
be treated for the purposes of this Section B of Part 3 as practising barrister or a registered European lawyer ; or
be subject to the rules in Part 2 of this Handbook or the rules in this Section 3.B which apply to practising barristers.
rS13 -
Rule S12 applies to you if and insofar as:
you are practising as a foreign lawyer ; and
give advice on English Law ; or
supply legal services in connection with any proceedings or contemplated proceedings in England and Wales (other than as an expert witness on foreign law).
rS14 -
Rule S12 applies to you if:
you are authorised and currently permitted to carry on reserved legal activities by another Approved Regulator ; and
you hold yourself out as a barrister or a registered European lawyer (as appropriate) other than as a manager or employee of a BSB entity ; and
when supplying legal services to any person or employer for the first time, you inform them clearly in writing at the earliest opportunity that you are not practising as a barrister or a registered European lawyer .
rS15 -
Rule S12 applies to you provided that:
you supplied legal services prior to 31 March 2012 pursuant to paragraph 206.1 or 206.2 of the 8th Edition of the Code; and
if you supply any legal services in England and Wales, you were called to the Bar before 31 July 2000; and
before 31 March in each year, and promptly after any change in the details previously supplied to the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ), you provide in writing to the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ), details of the current address(es) with telephone number(s) of the office or premises from which you do so, and:
if you are employed, the name, address, telephone number and nature of the practice of your employer ; or
if you are an employee or manager of, or you have an ownership interest in, a regulated entity, the name, address, email address, telephone number and the name of the regulated entity and its Approved Regulator ; and
unless you only offer services to your employer or to the regulated entity of which you are a manager or an employee or which you have an ownership interest in, you are (or, if you are supplying legal services to clients of your employer or regulated entity of which you are an owner , manager or an employee, your employer or such body is) currently insured in accordance with the requirements of Rule C76r and you comply with the requirements of Section 2.D4.
B2 - Provision of Reserved Legal Activities
rS16 -
You may only carry on reserved legal activities or supply other legal services in the following capacities:
as a self-employed barrister , subject to the limitations imposed by Section 3.B3;
as a BSB entity , subject to the limitations imposed by Section 3.B4;
as a manager of a BSB entity or as an employed barrister ( BSB entity ), subject to the limitations imposed by Section 3.B5;
as a manager of an authorised (non-BSB) body or as an employed barrister ( authorised non-BSB body ), subject to the limitations imposed by Section 3.B6;
as an employed barrister (non authorised body), subject to the limitations imposed by Section 3.B7; or
as a registered European lawyer in any of the above capacities, in which case the equivalent limitations that would have applied if you were practising as a barrister shall apply to your practice as a registered European lawyer .
rS17 -
Where you carry on reserved legal activities in one of the capacities set out at Rule S16, so as to be subject to regulation by the Bar Standards Board in respect of those reserved legal activities, any other legal services you may supply in that same capacity will also be subject to regulation by the Bar Standards Board , even if unreserved.
rS18 -
You may only practise or be involved with the supply of legal services (whether reserved legal activities or otherwise) in more than one of the capacities listed in Rule S16 after:
having obtained an amended practising certificate from the Bar Standards Board which recognises the capacities in respect of which you are intending to practise; and
having agreed with each employer or regulated entity with which you are involved a protocol that enables you to avoid or resolve any conflict of interests or duties arising from your practice and/or involvement in those capacities,
and provided always that you do not work in more than one capacity in relation to the same case or issue for the same client, at the same time.
rS19 -
If you are a pupil who has completed or been exempted from the non-practising six months of pupillage , you may only supply legal services to the public or exercise any right which you have by reason of being a barrister, if you have the permission of your pupil supervisor, or head of chambers or HOLP (as appropriate).
Subject to Rule S21, if you are a barrister of less than three years’ standing, you may:
only supply legal services to the public or exercise any right of audience by virtue of authorisation by the Bar Standards Board ; or
only conduct litigation by virtue of authorisation by the Bar Standards Board ,
if your principal place of practice (or if you are practising in a dual capacity, each of your principal places of practice ) is either:
a chambers or an annex of chambers which is also the principal place of practice of a relevant qualified person who is readily available to provide guidance to you; or
an office of an organisation of which an employee, partner , manager or director is a relevant qualified person who is readily available to provide guidance to you.
rS21 -
If you are an employed barrister ( non-authorised body ) and you are only exercising a right of audience or conducting litigation for those persons listed at Rule S39.1 to S39.6, then the place of practice from which you perform such duties is only required to be an office of an organisation of which an employee, partner , manager or director is a relevant qualified person who is readily available to provide guidance to you if you are of less than one year’s standing.
rS22 -
In Rule S20 and Rule S21 above, the references to "qualified person " mean the following:
Supply of legal services to the public – qualified person
Where you are a barrister intending to supply legal services to the public , a person shall be a qualified person for the purpose of Rule S20 if they:
have been entitled to practise and have practised as a barrister (other than as a pupil who has not completed pupillage in accordance with the Bar Training Regulations) or as a person authorised by another Approved Regulator for a period (which need not have been as a person authorised by the same Approved Regulator ) for at least six years in the previous eight years; and
for the previous two years have made such practice their primary occupation; and
are not acting as a qualified person in relation to more than two other people; and
have not been designated by the Bar Standards Board as unsuitable to be a qualified person .
The exercise of a right of audience – qualified person
you are a barrister exercising a right of audience in England and Wales, a person is a qualified person for the purpose of Rule S20 if they:
for the previous two years:
have made such practice their primary occupation; and
have been entitled to exercise a right of audience before every court in relation to all proceedings; and
have not been designated by the Bar Standards Board as unsuitable to be a qualified person ; or
you are a barrister exercising a right of audience in a Member State other than the United Kingdom pursuant to the Establishment Directive , or in Scotland or Northern Ireland pursuant to the European Communities (Lawyer’s Practice) Regulations 2000, a person shall be a qualified person for the purposes of Rule S20 if they:
have been designated by the Bar Standards Board as possessing qualifications and experience in that state or country which are equivalent to the qualifications and experience required by Rule rS22.3.a.i and rS22.3.a.ii above; and
The exercise of a right to conduct litigation – qualified person
you are a barrister exercising a right to conduct litigation in England and Wales, a person is a qualified person for the purpose of Rule S20 if they:
are entitled to conduct litigation before every court in relation to all proceedings; and
you are a barrister exercising a right to conduct litigation in a Member State other than the United Kingdom pursuant to the Establishment Directive , or in Scotland or Northern Ireland pursuant to the European Communities (Lawyer’s Practice) Regulations 2000, a person is a qualified person for the purposes of Rule rS20 and rS21 if they:
have been designated by the Bar Standards Board as having qualifications and experience in that state or country which are equivalent to the qualifications and experience required by Rule rS22.3.a.i and rS22.3.a.ii above; and
Guidance to Rules S20 and S22
gS2 -
If you are a practising barrister of less than three years’ standing and you are authorised to conduct litigation , you will need to work with a qualified person who is authorised to do litigation as well as with someone who meets the criteria for being a qualified person for the purpose of providing services to the public and exercising rights of audience. This may be, but is not necessarily, the same person .
B3 - Scope of Practice as a Self-employed Barrister
rS23 -
Rules rS24 and rS25 below apply to you where you are acting in your capacity as a self- employed barrister , whether or not you are acting for a fee.
rS24 -
by a professional client (who may be an employee of the client ); or
by a licensed access client , in which case you must comply with the licensed access rules ; or
by or on behalf of any other client , provided that:
the matter is public access instructions and:
you are entitled to provide public access work and the instructions are relevant to such entitlement; and
you have notified the Bar Standards Board that you are willing to accept instructions from lay clients; and
you comply with the public access rules; or
the matter relates to the conduct of litigation and
you have a litigation extension to your practising certificate ; and
you have notified the Bar Standards Board that you are willing to accept instructions from lay clients.
Guidance to Rule rS24
gS3 -
References to professional client in Rule rS24.1 include foreign lawyers and references to client in Rule rS24.3 include foreign clients.
gS4 -
If you are instructed by a foreign lawyer to provide advocacy services in relation to court proceedings in England and Wales, you should advise the foreign lawyer of any limitation on the services you can provide. In particular, if conduct of litigation will be required, and you are not authorised to conduct litigation or have not been instructed to do so, you should advise the foreign lawyer to take appropriate steps to instruct a person authorised to conduct litigation and, if requested, assist the foreign lawyer to do so. If it appears to you that the foreign lawyer is not taking reasonable steps to instruct someone authorised to conduct litigation , then you should consider whether to return your instructions under rules C25 and C26.
Subject to Rule S26, you must not in the course of your practice undertake the management, administration or general conduct of a client's affairs.
rS26 -
Nothing in Rule S25 prevents you from undertaking the management, administration or general conduct of a client's affairs where such work is foreign work performed by you at or from an office outside England and Wales which you have established or joined primarily for the purposes of carrying out that particular foreign work or foreign work in general.
B4 - Scope of Practice as a BSB Entity
rS27 -
Rules rS28 and rS29 apply to you where you are acting in your capacity as a BSB entity .
by a professional client (who may be an employee of the client );
at least one manager or employee is suitably qualified and experienced to undertake public access work; and
Guidance to Rule rS28
References to professional client in Rule S28.1 include foreign lawyers and references to client in Rule S28.3 include foreign clients.
gS6 -
If you are instructed to provide advocacy services in relation to court proceedings in England and Wales by a foreign lawyer or other professional client who does not have a right to conduct litigation pursuant to Rule S28.1 and you are not authorised to conduct litigation yourself or you are otherwise not instructed to conduct the litigation in the particular matter, then you must:
advise the foreign lawyer to take appropriate steps to instruct a solicitor or other authorised litigator to conduct the litigation and, if requested, take reasonable steps to assist the foreign lawyer to do so;
cease to act and return your instructions if it appears to you that the foreign lawyer is not taking reasonable steps to instruct a solicitor or other authorised litigator to conduct the litigation; and
not appear in court unless a solicitor or other authorised litigator has been instructed to conduct the litigation.
gS7 -
The public access and licensed access rules do not apply to BSB entities as their circumstances will vary considerably. Nevertheless those rules provide guidance on best practice. If you are a BSB entity , you will also need to have regard to relevant provisions in the Code of Conduct (Part 2 of this Handbook), especially C17, C21.7, C21.8 and C22. You will therefore need to consider whether:
You have the necessary skills and experience to do the work, including, where relevant, the ability to work with a vulnerable client.
The employees who will be dealing with the client are either authorised to conduct litigation or entitled to do public access work or have had other relevant training and experience.;
it would be in the best interests of the client or of the interests of justice for the client to instruct a solicitor or other professional client if you are not able to provide such services
If the matter involves the conduct of litigation and you are not able or instructed to conduct litigation, whether the client will be able to undertake the tasks that you cannot perform for them;
The client is clear about the services which you will and will not provide and any limitations on what you can do, and what will be expected of them;
If you are not able to act in legal aid cases, the client is in a position to take an informed decision as to whether to seek legal aid or proceed with public access.
gS8 -
You will also need to ensure that you keep proper records.
rS29 -
Subject to Rule rS30, you must not in the course of your practice undertake the management, administration or general conduct of a client's affairs.
rS30 -
Nothing in Rule S29 prevents you from undertaking the management, administration or general conduct of a client's affairs where such work is foreign work performed by you at or from an office outside England and Wales which you have established or joined primarily for the purposes of carrying out that particular foreign work or foreign work in general.
B5 - Scope of Practice as a manager of a BSB entity or as an employed barrister (BSB entity)
rS31 -
Rules rS32 and rS33 below apply to you where you are acting in your capacity as a manager of a BSB entity or as an employed barrister ( BSB entity ).
rS32 -
You may only supply legal services to the following person s:
the BSB entity ; or
any employee, director, or company secretary of the BSB entity, in a matter arising out of or relating to that person ’s employment;
any client of the BSB entity ;
if you supply legal services at a Legal Advice Centre , clients of the Legal Advice Centre ; or
if you supply legal services free of charge, members of the public.
rS33 -
Subject to Rule S34, you must not in the course of your practice undertake the management, administration or general conduct of a client's affairs.
Nothing in Rule S33 prevents you from undertaking the management, administration or general conduct of a client's affairs where such work is foreign work performed by you at or from an office outside England and Wales which you have established or joined primarily for the purposes of carrying out that particular foreign work or foreign work in general.
B6 - Scope of practice as a Manager of an Authorised (Non BSB) Body or as an Employed Barrister (Authorised Non BSB Body)
rS35 -
Rules S36 and S37 apply to you where you are acting in your capacity as a manager of an authorised (non-BSB) body or as an employed barrister ( authorised non-BSB body )
rS36 -
the authorised (non-BSB) body ;
any employee, director or company secretary of the authorised (non-BSB) body in a matter arising out of or relating to that person ’s employment;
any client of the authorised (non-BSB) body ;
if you provide legal services at a Legal Advice Centre , clients of the Legal Advice Centre ; or
rS37 -
You must comply with the rules of the Approved Regulator or licensing authority of the authorised (non-BSB) body .
B7 - Scope of Practice as an Employed Barrister (Non-Authorised Body)
rS38 -
Rule S39 applies to you where you are acting in your capacity as an employed barrister (non authorised body).
rS39 -
Subject to s. 15(4) of the Legal Services Act 2007, you may only supply legal services to the following person s:
your employer ;
any employee, director or company secretary of your employer in a matter arising out of or relating to that person ’s employment;
if your employer is a public authority (including the Crown or a Government department or agency or a local authority), another public authority on behalf of which your employer has made arrangements under statute or otherwise to supply any legal services or to perform any of that other public authority's functions as agent or otherwise;
if you are employed by or in a Government department or agency, any Minister or Officer of the Crown;
if you are employed by a trade association , any individual member of the association;
if you are, or are performing the functions of, a Justices’ clerk , the Justices whom you serve;
if you are employed by the Legal Aid Agency , members of the public;
if you are employed by or at a Legal Advice Centre , clients of the Legal Advice Centre ;
if you supply legal services free of charge, members of the public; or
if your employer is a foreign lawyer and the legal services consist of foreign work, any client of your employer .
B8 - Scope of Practice of a Barrister Called to undertake a Particular Case
rS40 -
If you are called to the Bar under rQ98 of the Bar Training Regulations (temporary membership of the Bar ), you may not practise as a barrister other than to conduct the case or cases specified in the certificate referred to in rQ99.
B9 - Legal Advice Centres
You may supply legal services at a Legal Advice Centre on a voluntary or part time basis and, if you do so, you will be treated for the purposes of this Handbook as if you were employed by the Legal Advice Centre .
rS42 -
If you supply legal services at a Legal Advice Centre to clients of a Legal Advice Centre in accordance with Rule rS41:
you must not in any circumstances receive either directly or indirectly any fee or reward for the supply of any legal services to any client of the Legal Advice Centre other than a salary paid by the Legal Advice Centre ;
you must ensure that any fees in respect of legal services supplied by you to any client of the Legal Advice Centre accrue and are paid to the Legal Advice Centre , or to the Access to Justice Foundation or other such charity as prescribed by order made by the Lord Chancellor under s.194(8) of the Legal Services Act 2007; and
you must not have any financial interest in the Legal Advice Centre .
Guidance to Rules S41 and S42
gS9 -
You may provide legal services at a Legal Advice Centre on an unpaid basis irrespective of the capacity in which you normally work.
gS10 -
If you are a self-employed barrister , you do not need to inform the Bar Standards Board that you are also working for a Legal Advice Centre .
gS11 -
Transitional arrangements under the LSA allow Legal Advice Centre s to provide reserved legal activities without being authorised. When this transitional period comes to an end, the rules relating to providing services at Legal Advice Centres will be reviewed.
B10 - Barristers Authorised by other Approved Regulators
rS43 -
If you are authorised by another Approved Regulator to carry on a reserved legal activity and currently permitted to practise by that Approved Regulator , you must not practise as a barrister and you are not eligible for a practising certificate .
C - PRACTISING CERTIFICATE RULES
C1 - Eligibility for Practising Certificates and Litigation Extensions
In this Section 3.C, references to "you" and "your" are references to barristers and registered European lawyers who are intending to apply for authorisation to practise as a barrister or a registered European lawyer (as the case may be) or who are otherwise intending to apply for a litigation extension to their existing practising certificate .
rS45 -
You are eligible for a practising certificate if:
you are a barrister or registered European lawyer and you are not currently suspended from practice and have not been disbarred; and
you meet the requirements of Rules S46.1, S46.2, S46.3 or S46.4; and
rS45.3 does not come into effect until 1 April 2015
within the last 5 years either (i) you have held a practising certificate ; or (ii) you have satisfactorily completed (or have been exempted from the requirement to complete) either the non-practising period of 6 months of pupilage or 12 months of pupilage; or
if not, you have complied with such training requirements as may be imposed by the Bar Standards Board .
The above does not come into effect until 1 April 2015
a full practising certificate if either:
you have satisfactorily completed 12 months pupillage ; or
you have been exempted from the requirement to complete 12 months of pupillage ; or
on 30 July 2000, you were entitled to exercise full rights of audience by reason of being a barrister ; or
you were called to the Bar before 1 January 2002 and:
you notified the Bar Council that you wished to exercise a right of audience before every court and in relation to all proceedings; and
you have complied with such training requirements as the Bar Council or the Bar Standards Board may require or you have been informed by the Bar Council or the Bar Standards Board that you do not need to comply with any such further requirements;
in each case, before 31 March 2012;
a provisional practising certificate if you have satisfactorily completed (or have been exempted from the requirement to complete) the non-practising period of 6 months of pupillage and at the time when you apply for a practising certificate you are registered as a Pupil ;
a limited practising certificate if you were called to the Bar before 1 January 2002 but you are not otherwise eligible for a full practising certificate in accordance with Rule S46.1 above; or
a registered European lawyer’s practising certificate if you are a registered European lawyer .
rS47 -
You are eligible for a litigation extension:
where you have or are due to be granted a practising certificate (other than a provisional practising certificate ); and
more than three years’ standing; or
less than three years’ standing, but your principal place of practice (or if you are practising in a dual capacity, each of your principal places of practice ) is either:
a chambers or an annex of chambers which is also the principal place of practice of a qualified person (as that term is defined in Rule S22.3) who is readily available to provide guidance to you; or
an office of an organisation of which an employee, partner , manager or director is a qualified person (as that term is defined in Rule S22.3) who is readily available to provide guidance to you;
you have the relevant administrative systems in place to be able to provide legal services direct to clients and to administer the conduct of litigation ; and
you have the procedural knowledge to enable you to conduct litigation competently.
Guidance to Rules S47.3
gS12 -
You should refer to the more detailed guidance published by the Bar Standards Board from time to time which can be found at https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/regulatory-requirements/for-barristers/authorisation-to-conduct-litigation/. This provides more information about the evidence you may be asked for to show that you have procedural knowledge to enable you to conduct litigation competently.
C2 - Applications for Practising Certificates and Litigation Extensions by Barristers and Registered European Lawyers
rS48 -
You may apply for a practising certificate by:
completing the relevant application form supplied by the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) and submitting it to the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ); and
submitting such information in support of the application as may be prescribed by the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ); and
paying (or undertaking to pay in a manner determined by the Bar Council ) the appropriate practising certificate fee in the amount determined in accordance with Rule S50 (subject to any reduction pursuant to Rule S53).
rS49 -
You may apply for a litigation extension to a practising certificate (other than a provisional practising certificate ) by:
confirming that you meet the relevant requirements of Rule S47.1;
paying (or undertaking to pay in a manner determined by the Bar Council ) the application fee and the litigation extension fee (if any);
confirming, in such form as the Bar Standards Board may require from time to time, that you have the relevant administrative systems in place to be able to provide legal services direct to clients and to administer the conduct of litigation in accordance with Rule S47.3; and
confirming, in such form as the Bar Standards Board may require from time to time, that you have the procedural knowledge to enable you to conduct litigation competently in accordance with Rule S47.4.
rS50 -
An application will only have been made under either Rule S48 or S49 once the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) has received, in respect of the relevant application, the application form in full, together with the application fee , the practising certificate fee, the litigation extension fee (if any, or an undertaking to pay such fees in a manner determined by the Bar Council ), all the information required in support of the application and confirmation from you, in the form of a declaration, that the information contained in, or submitted in support of, the application is full and accurate.
On receipt of the application, the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) may require, from you or a third party (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any BSB entity ), such additional information, documents or references as it considers appropriate to the consideration of your application.
rS52 -
You are person ally responsible for the contents of your application and any information submitted to the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) by you or on your behalf and you must not submit (or cause or permit to be submitted on your behalf) information to the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) which you do not believe is full and accurate.
rS53 -
When applying for a practising certificate you may apply to the Bar Council for a reduction in the practising certificate fee payable by you if your gross fee income or salary is less than such amount as the Bar Council may decide from time to time. Such an application must be submitted by completing the form supplied for that purpose by the Bar Council which can be found through Barrister Connect.
C3 - Practising Certificate Fees and Litigation Extension Fees
rS54 -
The practising certificate fee shall be the amount or amounts prescribed in the Schedule of Practising Certificate Fees issued by the Bar Council from time to time, and any reference in these Rules to the "appropriate practising certificate fee” or the “practising certificate fee payable by you” refers to the practising certificate fee payable by you pursuant to that Schedule, having regard , amongst other things, to:
the different annual practising certificate fees which may be prescribed by the Bar Council for different categories of barristers, e.g. for Queen’s Counsel and junior counsel, for barristers of different levels of seniority, and/or for barristers practising in different capacities and/or according to different levels of income (i.e. self-employed barristers, employed barristers, managers or employees of BSB entities or barristers practising with dual capacity);
any reductions in the annual practising certificate fees which may be permitted by the Bar Council in the case of practising certificates which are valid for only part of a practising certificate year ;
any discounts from the annual practising certificate fee which may be permitted by the Bar Council in the event of payment by specified methods;
any reduction in, or rebate from, the annual practising certificate fee which may be permitted by the Bar Council on the grounds of low income, change of category or otherwise; and
any surcharge or surcharges to the annual practising certificate fee which may be prescribed by the Bar Council in the event of an application for renewal of a practising certificate being made after the end of the practising certificate year .
rS55 -
The litigation extension fee shall be the amount or amounts prescribed by the Bar Council from time to time, and in these Rules the "appropriate litigation extension fee” or the “litigation extension fee payable by you” is the litigation extension fee payable by you having regard to, among other things:
any reductions in the annual litigation extension fees which may be permitted by the Bar Council in the case of litigation extensions which are valid for only part of a practising certificate year ;
any discounts from the annual litigation extension fee which may be permitted by the Bar Council in the event of payment by specified methods;
any reduction in, or rebate from, the annual litigation extension fee which may be permitted by the Bar Council on the grounds of low income, change of category, or otherwise; and
any surcharge or surcharges to the annual litigation extension fee which may be prescribed by the Bar Council in the event of an application for a litigation extension being made at a time different from the time of your application for a practising certificate .
If you have given an undertaking to pay the practising certificate fee or the litigation extension fee, you must comply with that undertaking in accordance with its terms.
C4 - Issue of Practising Certificates and Litigation Extensions
rS57 -
The Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) shall not issue a practising certificate to a barrister or registered European lawyer :
who is not eligible for a practising certificate , or for a practising certificate of the relevant type; or
who has not applied for a practising certificate ; or
whohas not paid or not otherwise undertaken to pay in a manner determined by the Bar Council, the appropriate practising certificate fee;or
who is not insured against claims for professional negligence as provided for in Rule C76.
rS58 -
The Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) shall not grant a litigation extension to a barrister or registered European lawyer :
in circumstances where the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board) is not satisfied that the requirements of litigation extension are met; or
who has not applied for a litigation extension ; or
who has not paid or not otherwise undertaken to pay in a manner determined by the Bar Council, the appropriate application fee and the litigation extension fee (if any).
rS59 -
The Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) may refuse to issue a practising certificate or to grant a litigation extension, or may revoke a practising certificate or a litigation extension in accordance with Section 3.C5, if it is satisfied that the information submitted in support of the application for the practising certificate or litigation extension (as the case may be) is (or was when submitted) incomplete, inaccurate or incapable of verification, or that the relevant barrister or registered European lawyer :
does not hold adequate insurance in accordance with Rule C76;
has failed and continues to fail to pay the appropriate practising certificate fee or litigation extension fee when due;
would be, or is, practising in breach of the provisions of Section 3.B;
has not complied with any of the requirements of the Continuing Professional Development Regulations applicable to them;
has not declared information on type and area of practice in a form determined by the BSB;
has not made the declarations required by the BSB in relation to Youth Court work;
has not made the declarations required by the BSB in relation to the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017;
has not provided the BSB with a unique email address.
rS60 -
When the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) issues a practising certificate or a litigation extension , it shall:
inform the relevant barrister or registered European lawyer of that fact; and
in the case of a practising certificate , publish that fact, together with the name and practising address of the barrister and registered European lawyer and the other details specified in Rule S61 in the register on the Bar Standards Board ’s website; or
in the case of a litigation extension:
issue a revised and updated practising certificate to incorporate an express reference to such litigation extension in accordance with Rule S66; and
amend the register maintained on the Bar Standards Board's website to show that the relevant barrister or registered European lawyer (as the case may be) is now authorised to conduct litigation .
rS61 -
A practising certificate must state:
the name of the barrister or registered European lawyer (as the case may be);
the period for which the practising certificate is valid;
the reserved legal activities which the barrister or registered European lawyer (as the case may be) to whom it is issued is thereby authorised to carry on;
the capacity (or capacities) in which the barrister or registered European lawyer (as the case may be) practises; and
whether the barrister or registered European lawyer (as the case may be) is registered with the Bar Council as a Public Access practitioner.
rS62 -
A practising certificate may be valid for a practising certificate year or part thereof and for one month after the end of the practising certificate year .
A full practising certificate shall authorise a barrister to exercise a right of audience before every court in relation to all proceedings.
rS64 -
A provisional practising certificate shall authorise a pupil in their second six to exercise a right of audience before every court in relation to all proceedings.
rS65 -
A limited practising certificate shall not authorise a barrister to exercise a right of audience , save that it shall authorise a barrister to exercise any right of audience which they had by reason of being a barrister and were entitled to exercise on 30 July 2000.
A practising certificate shall authorise a barrister to conduct litigation in relation to every court and all proceedings if the practising certificate specifies a litigation extension .
rS67 -
Every practising certificate issued to a barrister shall authorise the barrister :
reserved instrument activities ;
probate activities ;
the administration of oaths; and
immigration work .
A registered European lawyer’s practising certificate shall authorise a registered European lawyer to carry on the same reserved legal activities as a full practising certificate issued to a barrister , save that:
a registered European lawyer is only authorised to exercise a right of audience or conduct litigation in proceedings which can lawfully only be provided by a solicitor , barrister or other qualified person , if they act in conjunction with a solicitor or barrister authorised to practise before the court , tribunal or public authority concerned and who could lawfully exercise that right; and
a registered European lawyer is not authorised to prepare for remuneration any instrument creating or transferring an interest in land unless they have a home professional title obtained in Denmark, the Republic of Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Hungary or Slovakia.
C5 - Amendment and Revocation of Practising Certificates and Litigation Extensions
rS69 -
You must inform the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any event within 28 days, if any of the information submitted in support of your practising certificate application form or litigation extension application form:
was incomplete or inaccurate when the application form was submitted; or
changes before the expiry of your practising certificate .
rS70 -
change the capacity in which you practise (e.g. if you change from being an employed barrister or a manager or employee of a BSB entity or an authorised (non-BSB) body to a self-employed barrister , or vice versa, or if you commence or cease practice in a dual capacity); or
cease to be authorised to conduct litigation,
before the expiry of your practising certificate , you must:
notify the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) of such requested amendment to your practising certificate ; and
submit to the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) such further information as the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) may reasonably require in order for them to be able to determine whether or not to grant such proposed amendment to your practising certificate ; and
within 14 days of demand by the Bar Council pay to the Bar Council the amount (if any) by which the annual practising certificate fee which would apply to you in respect of your amended practising certificate exceeds the annual practising certificate fee which you have already paid (or undertaken to pay) to the Bar Council . In the event that the revised annual practising certificate fee is less than the amount originally paid to the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) or in circumstances where you wish to cease to be authorised to conduct litigation , the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) is not under any obligation to refund any part of the annual practising certificate fee or litigation extension fee already paid although it may in its absolute discretion elect to do so in the circumstances contemplated by the Schedule of Practising Certificate Fees issued by the Bar Council from time to time.
rS71 -
The Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) may amend a practising certificate if it is satisfied that any of the information contained in the relevant application form was inaccurate or incomplete or has changed, but may not amend a practising certificate (except in response to a request from the barrister or a registered European lawyer) without first:
giving written notice to the barrister or registered European lawyer of the grounds on which the practising certificate may be amended; and
giving the barrister or registered European lawyer a reasonable opportunity to make representations.
The Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) shall endorse a practising certificate to reflect any qualification restriction or condition imposed on the barrister or registered European lawyer by the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) or by a Disciplinary Tribunal , Interim Suspension or Disqualification Panel, Fitness to Practise Panel, the Visitors to the Inns of Court or the High Court.
rS73 -
The Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board):
shall revoke a practising certificate :
if the barrister becomes authorised to practise by another approved regulator;
if the barrister or registered European lawyer is disbarred or suspended from practice as a barrister or registered European lawyer whether on an interim basis under section D of Part 5 or otherwise under section B of Part 5;
if the barrister or registered European lawyer has notified the Bar Council or the Bar Standards Board that they no longer wish to have a practising certificate ; and
may revoke a practising certificate :
in the circumstances set out in Rule rS59; or
if the barrister or registered European lawyer has given an undertaking to pay the appropriate practising certificate fee and fails to comply with that undertaking in accordance with its terms,
giving written notice to the relevant barrister or registered European lawyer of the grounds on which the practising certificate may be revoked; and
giving the relevant barrister or registered European lawyer a reasonable opportunity to make representations.
rS74 -
The Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ):
shall revoke a litigation extension if the barrister or registered European lawyer has notified the Bar Council or the Bar Standards Board that they no longer wish to have the litigation extension ; and
may revoke a litigation extension :
if the barrister or registered European lawyer has given an undertaking to pay the appropriate litigation extension fee and fails to comply with that undertaking in accordance with its terms,
giving written notice to the relevant barrister or registered European lawyer of the grounds on which the litigation extension may be revoked; and
C6 - Applications for Review
If you contend that the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) has:
wrongly failed or refused to issue or amend a practising certificate ; or
wrongly amended or revoked a practising certificate ; or
wrongly failed or refused to issue a litigation extension ; or
wrongly revoked a litigation extension ,
in each case in accordance with this Section 3.C, then you may lodge an application for review using the form supplied for that purpose by the Bar Standards Board which can be found here: https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/current-requirements/forms-and-guidelines/applications-authorisations,-exemptions,-waivers-and-reviews/. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 3.C6 does not apply to any amendment or revocation of a practising certificate or litigation extension made by order of a Disciplinary Tribunal , Interim Suspension or Disqualification Panel, Fitness to Practise Panel, the Visitors to the Inns of Court or the High Court.
rS76 -
The decision of the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) shall take effect notwithstanding any application for review being submitted in accordance with Rule S75. However, the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) may, in its absolute discretion, issue a temporary practising certificate or litigation extension to a barrister or registered European lawyer who has lodged an application for review.
rS77 -
If the review finds that the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board):
has wrongly failed or refused to issue a practising certificate , then the Bar Council it (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) must issue such practising certificate as ought to have been issued; or
has wrongly failed or refused to amend a practising certificate , then the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) must make such amendment to the practising certificate as ought to have been made; or
has wrongly amended a practising certificate , then the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) must cancel the amendment; or
has wrongly revoked a practising certificate , then the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) must re-issue the practising certificate ; or
has wrongly failed or refused to grant a litigation extension , then the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) must grant such litigation extension as ought to have been granted; or
has wrongly revoked a litigation extension , then the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) must re-grant the litigation extension .
D - THE REGISTRATION OF EUROPEAN LAWYERS RULES
rS78 -
If you are a European lawyer and wish to practise on a permanent basis in England and Wales under a home professional title , you may apply to the Bar Standards Board to be registered as a registered European lawyer .
rS79 -
An application for registration must be made in such form as may be prescribed by the Bar Standards Board and be accompanied by:
a certificate, not more than three months old at the date of receipt of the application by the Bar Standards Board , that you are registered with the competent authority in a Member State as a lawyer qualified to practise in that Member State under a Member State professional title;
you have not on the grounds of misconduct or of the commission of a criminal offence been prohibited from practising in your Member State and are not currently suspended from so practising;
no bankruptcy order or directors disqualification order has been made against you and you have not entered into an individual voluntary arrangement with your creditors;
you are not aware of any other circumstances relevant to your fitness to practise under your home professional title in England and Wales; and
you are not registered with the Law Society of England and Wales, of Scotland or of Northern Ireland; and
rS80 -
Provided that it is satisfied that the application complies with the requirements of Rule S79, the Bar Standards Board will:
register you as a registered European lawyer ; and
so inform you and the competent authority in your Member State which has issued the certificate referred to in Rule S79.1.
rS81 -
The Bar Standards Board will:
remove a registered European lawyer from the register:
pursuant to a sentence of a Disciplinary Tribunal ; or
if the registered European lawyer ceases to be a European lawyer ;
suspend a registered European lawyer from the register:
pursuant to a sentence of either a Disciplinary Tribunal or an Interim Suspension Panel; or
if the registered European lawyer's authorisation in their home State to pursue professional activities under their home professional title is suspended ; and
in each case, notify the European lawyer's home professional body:
of their removal or suspension from the register; and
of any criminal conviction or bankruptcy order of which it becomes aware against a registered European lawyer .
E - ENTITY APPLICATION AND AUTHORISATION
E1 - Eligibility for Authorisation to Practise as a BSB Entity
rS82 -
In this Section 3.E, "you" and "your" refer to the partnership , LLP or company which is applying for, or has applied for (in accordance with this Section 3.E), authorisation or (if a licensable body ) a licence to practise as a BSB entity, and references in these Rules to “authorisation to practise ” mean the grant by the Bar Council as Approved Regulator or licensing authority of an authorisation or a licence (as the case may be) under this Section 3.E (distinguishing between the two only where the context so requires).
rS83 -
To be eligible for authorisation to practise as a BSB entity , you:
must have arrangements in place designed to ensure at all times that any obligations imposed from time to time on the BSB entity , its managers, owners or employees by or under the Bar Standards Board's regulatory arrangements, including its rules and disciplinary arrangements, are complied with and confirm that the BSB entity and all owners and managers expressly consent to be bound by the Bar Standards Board ’s regulatory arrangements (including disciplinary arrangements);
must ensure at all times that any other statutory obligations imposed on the BSB entity , its managers, owners or employees, in relation to the activities it carries on, are complied with;
must confirm that you will have in place, at all times, individuals appointed to act as a HOLP (who must also be a manager) and a HOFA of the BSB entity ;
must confirm that you have or will have appropriate insurance arrangements in place at all timesin accordance with Rule C76 and you must be able to provide evidence of those insurance arrangements if required to do so by the Bar Standards Board ;
must confirm that, in connection with your proposed practice , you will not directly or indirectly hold client money in accordance with Rule C73 or have someone else hold client money on your behalf other than in those circumstances permitted by Rule C74;
must confirm that no individual that has been appointed or will be appointed as a HOLP, HOFA, manager or employee of the BSB entity is disqualified from acting as such by the Bar Standards Board or any Approved Regulator pursuant to section 99 of the LSA or otherwise as a result of its regulatory arrangements;
must confirm that you will at all times have a practising address in England or Wales;
must confirm that:
if you are an LLP , you are incorporated and registered in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000;
if you are a Company , you are:
incorporated and registered in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland under Parts 1 and 2 of the Companies Act 2006; or
incorporated in an Establishment Directive state and registered as an overseas company under Part 34 of the Companies Act 2006; or
incorporated and registered in an Establishment Directive state as a societas Europaea
must confirm that at least one manager or employee is an authorised individual in respect of each reserved legal activity which you wish to provide;
must confirm that you will pay annual fees as and when they become due.
rS84 -
In addition to the requirements set out at Rule S83:
to be eligible for authorisation to practise as a BSB entity:
all of the managers of the partnership , LLP or company (as the case may be) must be BSB authorised individuals or authorised (non-BSB) individuals; and
all of the owners(whether or not the ownership interest is material) of the partnership , LLP or company (as the case may be) must be BSB authorised individuals or authorised (non-BSB) individuals;
to be licensed to practise as a BSB licensed body :
the body must be a licensable body , as defined by section 72 of the LSA but must also meet the eligibility requirements set out at Rule rS83; and
all of the non-authorised owners in the partnership , LLP or company (as the case may be) must be approved by the Bar Standards Board as being able to hold such interest taking into account the relevant suitability criteria .
rS85 -
In the event that you meet the eligibility criteria set out in Rule rS83, you may submit an application in accordance with Section 3.E2 and the Bar Standards Board will review that application in accordance with Section 3.E3 and3.E4 to determine whether or not to authorise you or to grant you a licence (as appropriate)to practise as a BSB entity . In the event that the Bar Standards Board determines that you should be authorised or licensed (as appropriate)to practise as a BSB entity then it may either:
rS86 -
authorise you to practise as a BSB entity in the event that you also meet the eligibility criteria set out in Rule rS84.1 and you have applied to be authorised as such in your relevant application form; or
license you to practise as a BSB licensed body , in the event that you also meet the eligibility criteria set out in Rule S84.2 and you have applied to be authorised as such in your relevant application form.
rS87 -
Such authorisation or licence (as appropriate) will entitle you to:
to exercise a right of audience before every court in relation to all proceedings;
the administration of oaths;
to do immigration work ; and
if you have been granted a litigation extension , to conduct litigation .
Guidance on Rules S82 to S85
gS13 -
Single person entities are permitted under these arrangements. Therefore, a BSB entity may (subject to any structural requirements imposed by general law for the particular type of entity) comprise just one barrister who is both the owner and manager of that entity.
gS14 -
These are mandatory eligibility requirements. The Bar Standards Board has a discretion to take other factors into account in deciding whether an applicant body is one which it would be appropriate for it to regulate (see Section 3.E3 and 3.E4 below).
E2 - Applications for Authorisation
Application to be authorised or licensed as a BSB entity
rS88 -
To apply for authorisation to practise as a BSB entity, you must:
complete the application form supplied by the Bar Standards Board and submit it to the Bar Standards Board ; and
submit such other information, documents and references in support of the application as may be required by the application form or by the Bar Standards Board from time to time; and
pay the application fee in the amount determined in accordance with Rule S94 and the authorisation fee for the first year.
Application for a litigation extension
rS89 -
To apply for a litigation extension you must:
make this clear on your application form submitted in accordance with S88 (where appropriate) or otherwise submit the relevant application form made available by the Bar Standard Board on its website for this purpose; and
pay (or undertake to pay in a manner prescribed by the Bar Standards Board) the application fee (if any) and the relevant litigation extension fee in the amount determined in accordance with Rule S94; and
provide such other information to the Bar Standards Board as it may require in order to satisfy itself that:
you have a sufficient number of person s who are authorised to conduct litigation and to provide guidance to any managers or employees that may be involved in assisting in the conduct of litigation who are not themselves authorised and that you have an adequate number of qualified person s to provide guidance to any person s authorised to conduct litigation who are of less than three years’ standing.
Guidance on Rules S88 and S89
gS15 -
In the event that your application is rejected, the authorisation fee and/or litigation fee (as appropriate) will be reimbursed to you but the application fee(s) shall be retained by the Bar Standards Board.
gS16 -
a qualified person referred to in Rule S89.3 shall be defined in accordance with Rule S22.3
Approval applications for any new HOLPs, HOFAs, owners and/or managers
rS90 -
If, following authorisation or the grant of a licence (as appropriate), a BSB entity wishes to appoint a new HOLP , HOFA , owner or manager , the BSB entity must:
notify the Bar Standards Board of such a proposed appointment before it is made; and
make an application to the Bar Standards Board for approval of the new HOLP , HOFA , owner or manager (as appropriate); and
ensure that the new HOLP , HOFA , owner or manager (as appropriate) has expressly consented to be bound by the Bar Standards Board’s regulatory arrangements (including disciplinary arrangements); and
pay any fees set by the Bar Standards Board in respect of such approval applications.
rS91 -
An application for authorisation and/or a litigation extension is only made once the Bar Standards Board has received the application form in full, together with the appropriate fees, all the information required in support of the application and confirmation from you in the form of a declaration that the information contained in, or submitted in support of, the application is full and accurate.
rS92 -
On receipt of the application, the Bar Standards Board may require, from you or from a third party, such additional information, documents or references as it considers appropriate to the consideration of your application.
rS93 -
You are responsible for the contents of your application and any information submitted to the Bar Standards Board by you, or on your behalf, and you must not submit (or cause or permit to be submitted on your behalf) information to the Bar Standards Board which you do not believe is full and accurate.
rS94 -
The application fee and the litigation extension fee shall be the amount or amounts prescribed by the Bar Standards Board from time to time. The authorisation fee and litigation fee shall also be payable and shall be the amount or amounts prescribed by the Bar Standards Board from time to time.
Guidance on Rules S91 to S93
gS17 -
Application forms and guidance notes for completion can be found on the Bar Standard Board's website.
gS18 -
Once you have submitted an application, if you fail to disclose to the Bar Standards Board any information of which you later become aware and which you would have been required to supply if it had been known by you at the time of the original application the Bar Standards Board may refuse your application in accordance with rS101.6.
gS19 -
Details of the relevant application fee, licence fee, litigation extension fee, authorisation fee and litigation fee can be found on the Bar Standards Board's website.
E3 - Decision Process
rS95 -
Subject to Rules S96 and S97, the Bar Standards Board must make a decision in respect of each valid and complete application within the decision period .
rS96 -
In the event that the Bar Standards Board is not able to reach a decision within the decision period , it must notify you and must confirm to you the latest date by which you will have received a response to your application from the Bar Standards Board .
rS97 -
The Bar Standards Board may issue more than one notice to extend the decision period except that:
any notice to extend must always be issued before the decision period expires on the first occasion, and before any such extended decision period expires on any second and subsequent occasions; and
no notice to extend can result in the total decision period exceeding more than 9 months.
rS98 -
During its consideration of your application form, the Bar Standards Board may identify further information or documentation which it needs in order to be able to reach its decision. If this is the case, you must provide such additional information or documentation as soon as possible after you receive the relevant request from the Bar Standards Board . Any delay in providing this information shall further entitle the Bar Standards Board to issue an extension notice in accordance with Rule S96 and S97 (as the case may be) or to treat the application as having been withdrawn.
E4 - Issues to be Considered by the Bar Standards Board
Applications for authorisation or the grant of a licence
rS99 -
In circumstances where the mandatory conditions in Rules S83 and S84 have been met, the Bar Standards Board must then consider whether to exercise its discretion to grant the authorisation or licence (as appropriate). In exercising this discretion, the Bar Standards Board will consider whether the entity is one which it would be appropriate for the Bar Standards Board to regulate, taking into account its analysis of the risks posed by you, the regulatory objectives of the LSA and the Entity Regulation Policy Statement of the Bar Standards Board as published from time to time.
rS100 -
In circumstances where the mandatory conditions set out at Rules S83 and S84 have not been met, the Bar Standards Board must refuse to grant the authorisation or licence (as appropriate).
gS20 -
In exercising its discretion whether to grant the authorisation or licence the Bar Standards Board will have regard to its current Entity Regulation Policy Statement.
rS101 -
Where the Bar Standards Board concludes that you are an entity which it is appropriate for it to regulate the Bar Standards Board may nonetheless in its discretion refuse your application for authorisation if:
it is not satisfied that your managers and owners are suitable as a group to operate or control a practice providing services regulated by the Bar Standards Board ;
it is not satisfied that your proposed HOLP and HOFA meet the relevant suitability criteria;
if it is not satisfied that your proposed HOLP and HOFA meet the relevant suitability criteria ;
it is not satisfied that your management or governance arrangements are adequate to safeguard the regulatory objectives of the LSA or the policy objectives of the Bar Standards Board as set out in the Entity Regulation Policy Statement;
it is not satisfied that, if the authorisation is granted, you will comply with the Bar Standards Board’s regulatory arrangements including this Handbook and any conditions imposed on the authorisation;
you have provided inaccurate or misleading information in your application or in response to any requests by the Bar Standards Board for information;
you have applied for authorisation to become a BSB entity (other than a BSB Licensed Body ) and the Bar Standards Board has concluded that it may require the intervention powers allocated to it in respect of licensed bodies under the LSA in respect of you; or
you have applied for authorisation to become a BSB entity and the Bar Standards Board has concluded that it may require the intervention powers allocated to it in respect of licensed bodies under the LSA in respect of you; or
for any other reason, the Bar Standards Board considers that it would be inappropriate for the Bar Standards Board to grant authorisation to you, having regard to its analysis of the risk posed by you, the regulatory objectives of the LSA or the Entity Regulation Policy Statement of the Bar Standards Board.
Guidance to Rule S101
gS21 -
In circumstances where the Bar Standards Board rejects your application on the basis of Rule S101, you will have the opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to your composition and to re-apply to become a BSB entity or a BSB licensed body (as appropriate).
Applications for authorisation to conduct litigation
rS102 -
If the Bar Standards Board is unable to satisfy itself that the BSB entity meets the requirements set out in Rule S89, it can refuse to grant the litigation extension.
rS103 -
The Bar Standards Board must consider any approval applications for any new HOLPs, HOFAs, owners and/or managers made in accordance with Rule S90 and must determine any application by deciding whether the relevant individual meets the suitability criteria which apply relevant to such a proposed appointment.
E5 - Suitability Criteria in respect of HOLPs, HOFAs, owners and managers
rS104 -
The Bar Standards Board must conclude that an individual does not meet the suitability criteria to undertake the role of a HOLP if:
they are not an authorised individual ;
they are disqualified from acting as a HOLP by the Bar Standards Board or an Approved Regulator or licensing authority pursuant to section 99 of the LSA or otherwise as a result of its regulatory arrangements; or
It determines that the individual is not able effectively to carry out the duties imposed on a HOLP by section 91 of the LSA.
rS105 -
The Bar Standards Board may conclude that an individual does not meet the suitability criteria to undertake the role of a HOLP if any of the circumstances listed in Rule S110 apply to the individual designated as the HOLP .
rS106 -
The Bar Standards Board must conclude that an individual does not meet the suitability criteria for acting as a HOFA if:
they are disqualified from acting as a HOFA by the Bar Standards Board or by an Approved Regulator or licencing authority pursuant to section 99 of the LSA or otherwise as a result of its regulatory arrangements; or
the Bar Standards Board determines that they are not able effectively to carry out the duties imposed on a HOFA by section 92 of the LSA.
rS107 -
The Bar Standards Board may conclude that an individual does not meet the suitability criteria for acting as a HOFA if any of the circumstances listed in Rule S110 apply to them.
rS108 -
If an owner is also a non-authorised individual , the Bar Standards Board must approve them as an owner . The Bar Standards Board shall approve a non-authorised individual to be an owner of BSB licensed body if:
their holding of an ownership interest does not compromise the regulatory objectives; and
their holding of an ownership interest does not compromise compliance with the duties imposed pursuant to section 176 of the LSA by the licensed body or by any authorised individuals who are to be employees or managers of that licensed body; and
they otherwise meet the suitability criteria to hold that ownership interest taking into account:
their probity and financial position;
whether they are disqualified pursuant to section 100(1) of LSA or included in the list maintained by the Legal Services Board pursuant to paragraph 51 of Schedule 13 of the LSA; and
their associates; and
the suitability criteria in Rule rS110 which apply to managers and employees.
rS109 -
If a manager is a non-authorised individual, the Bar Standards Board must approve them as a manager. The Bar Standards Board must approve a non-authorised individual to be a manager of a BSB licensed body if they meet the suitability criteria to hold that interest taking into account:
Their probity;
whether they are disqualified pursuant to section 100(1) of the LSA or included in the list maintained by the Legal Services Board pursuant to paragraph 51 of Schedule 13 of the LSA; and
rS110 -
The Bar Standards Board may reject an application if it is not satisfied that:
an individual identified in an application for authorisation or the grant of a licence as a proposed owner , manager , HOLP or HOFA of the relevant applicant body ; or
any individual identified as a replacement owner , manager , HOLP or HOFA ,
meets the suitability criteria to act as an owner , manager, HOLP or HOFA of a BSB entity . Reasons why the Bar Standards Board may conclude that an individual does not meet the suitability criteria include where an individual:
has been committed to prison in civil or criminal proceedings (unless the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (SI 1975/1023) applies, this is subject to any conviction being unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended));
has been disqualified from being a director ;
has been removed from the office of charity trustee or trustee for a charity by an order under section 72(1)(d) of the Charities Act 1993;
has been a manager of a regulated entity or a BSB entity which has entered into a voluntary arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986;
has been a director of a company or a member of an LLP (as defined by section 4 of the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000) which has been the subject of a winding up order, an administration order or administrative receivership; or has entered into a voluntary arrangement under the Insolvency Act 1986; or has been otherwise wound up or put into administration in circumstances of insolvency;
lacks capacity (within the meaning of the Mental Capacity Act 2005) and powers under sections 15 to 20 or section 48 of that Act are exercisable in relation to that individual;
is the subject of an outstanding judgment or judgments involving the payment of money;
is currently charged with an indictable offence, or has been convicted of an indictable offence, any offence of dishonesty, or any offence under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or the Compensation Act 2006 (unless the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (SI 1975/1023) applies, this is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (as amended));
has been disqualified from being appointed to act as a HOLP or a HOFA or from being a manager or employed by an authorised or licensed body (as appropriate) by the Bar Standards Board or another Approved Regulator or licensing authority pursuant to its or their powers under section 99 of the LSA or otherwise as a result of its regulatory arrangements;
has been the subject in another jurisdiction of circumstances equivalent to those listed in Rules S110.1 to S110.14;
has an investigation or disciplinary proceedings pending against them and/or has professional conduct findings against them either under the disciplinary scheme for barristers or otherwise; or
has been involved in other conduct which calls into question their honesty, integrity, or respect for the law;
has not consented to be bound by the regulatory arrangements (including disciplinary arrangements) of the Bar Standards Board .
E6 - Notification of the Authorisation Decision
rS111 -
The Bar Standards Board will notify you of its decision in writing within the decision period or by such later date as may have been notified to the applicant body in accordance with Rules S96 or S97. In the event that the Bar Standards Board decides to refuse to grant the application, it must give the reasons for such refusal.
Guidance to rule S110
gS21.1 -
For the avoidance of doubt rS110 does not oblige you to disclose cautions or criminal convictions that are “spent” under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 unless the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (SI 1975/1023) applies. The latter entitles the BSB to ask for disclosure of unprotected cautions or criminal convictions that are “spent” in relation to HOLPs and HOFAs of licensed bodies when seeking authorisation and owners who require approval under Schedule 13 to the LSA.
E7 - Terms of Authorisation
rS112 -
Any authorisation given by the Bar Standards Board to a BSB entity, and the terms of any licence granted by the Bar Standards Board to a BSB licensed body in accordance with this Section 3.E must specify:
the activities which are reserved legal activities and which the BSB entity is authorised to carry on by virtue of the authorisation or the licence (as the case may be); and
any conditions subject to which the authorisation or the licence (as the case may be) is given (which may include those in Rule S114).
rS113 -
Authorisations and licences must, in all cases, be given on the conditions that:
any obligation which may from time to time be imposed on you (or your managers, employees, or owners) by the Bar Standards Board is complied with; and
any other obligation imposed on you (or your managers , employees or owners) by or under the LSA or any other enactment is complied with.
you (and your managers, employees, and owners) consent to be bound by the regulatory arrangements (including the disciplinary arrangements) of the Bar Standards Board; and
if the conditions outlined at rS113.5 apply, the Bar Standards Board may without notice:
modify an authorisation granted under rS116;
revoke an authorisation under rS117;
require specific co-operation with the Bar Standards Board as provided for in rC64 and rC70;
take such action as may be necessary in the public or clients’ interests and in the interests of the regulatory objectives; and
recover from the BSB entity any reasonable costs that were necessarily incurred in the exercise of its regulatory functions.
The conditions referred to in rS113.4 are that:
one or more of the terms of the BSB entity's authorisation have not been complied with;
a person has been appointed receiver or manager of the property of the BSB entity ;
a relevant insolvency event has occurred in relation to the BSB entity ;
the Bar Standards Board has reason to suspect dishonesty on the part of any manager or employee of the BSB entity in connection with either that BSB entity's business or the business of another body of which the person was a manager or employee, or the practice or former practice of the manager or employee;
the Bar Standards Board is satisfied that it is necessary to exercise any of the powers listed in rS113.4 in relation to the BSB entity to protect the interests of clients (or former or potential clients) of the BSB entity .
rS114 -
In addition to the provisions in Rule S113, an authorisation or a licence may be given subject to such other terms as the Bar Standards Board considers appropriate including terms as to:
the non-reserved activities which you may or may not carry on; and/or
in the case of licensed bodies:
the nature of any interest held by a non-authorised owner provided always that the Bar Standards Board complies with its obligations under paragraph 17 of Schedule 13 to the LSA; and/or
any limitations on the shareholdings or voting controls which may be held by non-authorised owners in accordance with paragraph 33 of Schedule 13 to the LSA.
E8 - Duration of the Authorisation/Licence granted
rS115 -
Except where indicated otherwise in the authorisation or licence, any authorisation or licence granted in accordance with this Section 3.E will be of unlimited duration subject to the following:
The authorisation or licence shall cease to have effect on the occurrence of any of the following:
if you have your authorisation/licence withdrawn in accordance with Rule rS117; or
if you obtain authorisation/licencefrom another Approved Regulator or licensing authority ;
The authorisation or licence may cease to have effect on the occurrence of any of the following:
if you fail to provide the relevant monitoring information or fail to pay any relevant fees in circumstances where the Bar Standards Board has notified you (i) that such information or payment is required within a particular time; and (ii) that failure to provide such information or payment within that time may result in the withdrawal of your authorisation or licence in accordance with this Rule rS115; or
if you fail to replace your HOLP / HOFA in accordance with the requirements of this Handbook .
The licence of a partnership or other unincorporated body ("the existing body") may continue where the existing body ceases to exist and another body succeeds to the whole or substantially the whole of its business subject to the following in rS115.3(a)-(b):
you have notified the Bar Standards Board of such a change within 28 days;
if there is no remaining partner who was a partner before the existing body ceased to exist the licence shall cease to have effect from the date the existing body ceased to exist.
E9 - Modification of an Authorisation/Licence
rS116 -
In addition to any powers which the Bar Standards Board may have in accordance with Part 5, the Bar Standards Board may modify the terms of an authorisation or licence granted by it:
if you apply to the Bar Standards Board for the terms of such authorisation or licence (as the case may be) to be modified; or
if it is satisfied that any of the information contained in the relevant application form was inaccurate or incomplete or has changed; or
if such modification is required in accordance with the provisions of this Handbook ; or
where the Bar Standards Board reasonably considers that such modification is appropriate and in accordance with the regulatory objectives under the LSA or the policy objectives of the Bar Standards Board ,
where the conditions in rS113.5 are met,
but, in the circumstances set out in Rules S116.2 to S116.4 above, shall only be entitled to do so after:
giving notice to you in writing of the modifications which the Bar Standards Board is intending to make to your authorisation or licence (as the case may be); and
giving you a reasonable opportunity to make representations about such proposed modifications.
E10 - Revocation or suspension of an authorisation/licence
rS117 -
In addition to any powers which the Bar Standards Board may have in accordance with Part 5, the Bar Standards Board may:
revoke an authorisation or licence granted by it:
subject to Section 3.F, in the event that you no longer comply with the mandatory requirements set out in Rules S83 and S84; or
if your circumstances have changed in relation to the issues considered by the Bar Standards Board in Section 3.E4; or
if revocation otherwise appears appropriate taking into account the regulatory objectives of the Bar Standards Board ; or
where the conditions in rS113.5 are met.
suspend an authorisation or licence granted by it to give it an opportunity to investigate whether or not your authorisation or licence should be revoked in accordance with Rule rS117 (for the avoidance of doubt a BSB entity whose authorisation has been suspended remains a BSB regulated person ),
but (except for when the conditions in rS113.5 are met) in either case only after:
giving written notice to the relevant BSB entity of the grounds on which the authorisation or licence may be revoked; and
giving the relevant BSB entity a reasonable opportunity to make representations.
E11 - Applications for Review
rS118 -
If you consider that the Bar Standards Board has (other than pursuant to [Section 5]):
wrongly refused an application for authorisation or licence; or
wrongly imposed a term or condition on an authorisation or licence; or
wrongly modified the terms of your authorisation or licence; or
wrongly refused to modify the terms of your authorisation or licence; or
wrongly revoked or suspended your authorisation or licence; or
wrongly done any of these things in relation to a litigation extension to your authorisation or licence; or
failed to provide to you notice of a decision in accordance with this Section 3.E,
then you may lodge an application for review of that decision using the form supplied for that purpose by the Bar Standards Board. Such application for review will only have been made once the Bar Standards Board has received the relevant fee in respect of such application for review.
rS119 -
designated to act as a HOLP or a HOFA ; or
identified as a non-authorised owner or manager of the applicant body ,
who considers that the Bar Standards Board has wrongly concluded that they do not meet the suitability criteria which apply to their proposed position in the entity, may lodge an application for a review of that decision using the form supplied for that purpose by the Bar Standards Board. Alternatively, you may lodge an application for review on their behalf whether or not they have asked you to. In either case, such an application for a review will only have been made once the Bar Standards Board has received the relevant fee for it.
rS120 -
Any application for a review of the decision must be made within 28 days from the date when the decision is notified to you.
rS121 -
The decision of the Bar Standards Board will take effect notwithstanding the making of any application for a review in accordance with Rule rS118 or rS119. However, the Bar Standards Board may, in its absolute discretion, issue a temporary authorisation, licence or litigation extension to a BSB entity which has lodged an application for a review in accordance with this Section 3.E11.
rS122 -
If the review finds that the Bar Standards Board :
has wrongly failed or refused to grant an authorisation or licence; or
has wrongly imposed a term or condition on an authorisation or licence;
then in each case the Bar Standards Board must issue such authorisation or licence as ought to have been issued.
rS123 -
has wrongly modified an authorisation or licence; or
has wrongly refused to modify an authorisation or licence,
then in each case the Bar Standards Board shall make such modification to the authorisation or licence as ought to have been made.
rS124 -
If the review finds that the Bar Standards Board has wrongly revoked or suspended an authorisation or licence, then the Bar Standards Board shall re-issue such authorisation or licence.
If the review finds that the Bar Standards Board has wrongly done any of the things described in rS122 or–rS123 in relation to your litigation extension , then the Bar Council (acting by the Bar Standards Board ) shall grant such litigation extension as ought to have been granted.
rS125 -
If the review finds that the Bar Standards Board has wrongly concluded that an individual does not meet the suitability criteria relevant to their proposed position, the Bar Standards Board shall amend its decision and confirm that they do meet the suitability criteria which apply to their proposed position.
rS126 -
If, after such a review, you or the relevant individual(s) (as the case may be) do not agree with the decision you or the relevant individual(s) may appeal to the High Court against the decision.
rS127 -
Any appeal to the High Court against a decision of the BSB must be lodged within 28 days from the date that the decision is notified to you.
E12 - Register
rS128 -
The Bar Standards Board must keep a public register containing the names and places of practice of all BSB entities (together with details of the reserved legal activities which such BSB entities are able to undertake) as well as details of any bodies which have in the past been granted authorisation or obtained a licence from the Bar Standards Board but where such licence and/or authorisation is no longer current.
rS129 -
If an authorisation or licence is, at any time, suspended or made subject to conditions, this must be noted on the register of BSB entities by the Bar Standards Board .
F - ONGOING COMPLIANCE WITH THE AUTHORISATION AND LICENSING REQUIREMENTS
F1 - Non Compliance with the Mandatory Conditions
rS130 -
If, at any time, and for whatever reason, you fail to meet the mandatory conditions in Rules rS83 and rS84 which apply to the type of BSB entity which you are, then you must notify the Bar Standards Board of your failure to comply with the mandatory conditions within seven days of your failure to comply and, at the same time, you must submit your proposals for rectifying that non-compliance which, for the avoidance of doubt, must include your proposed timetable for rectifying them. If the Bar Standards Board considers that your proposals for rectifying them are not sufficient, the Bar Standards Board may issue a notice suspending or revoking your authorisation or licence (as appropriate)in accordance with Section 3.E10.
gS22 -
where your last remaining authorised person :
abandons, retires or resigns from the practice ; or
where you are a BSB entity (other than a BSB licensed body) a non-authorised individual is appointed as a manager of or otherwise acquires an ownership interest in such a practice , or where you are a licensable body and a non-authorised individual who is not a manager becomes an owner (for example on inheriting the interest from a manager who dies);
where you cease to have available at least one employee who is authorised to carry on a particular reserved activity which you are authorised to provide. Examples of situations where an individual should be considered to be unavailable to a BSB entity include where:
they are committed to prison;
they are unable to attend to the practice because of incapacity caused by illness, accident or age;
they become and continue to lack capacity under Part 1 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005;
they are made subject to a condition on thier practising certificate or registration which would be breached if they continue to be an owner and/or manager of the body; or
they are no longer authorised to perform the particular reserved legal activity .
you cease to have a HOLP or a HOFA appointed;
your HOLP , HOFA , any manager or owner ceases to meet the relevant suitability criteria ; or
where you are a licensed body , your last remaining owner and/or manager who is a non-authorised individual dies or otherwise leaves the practice .
gS23 -
Examples of proposals that you may submit in order to rectify such non-compliance include:
In the case of Guidance gS22.1, that you are seeking to appoint a different authorised person to be an owner and/or a manager of a BSB entity ;
In the case of Guidance gS22.2, confirmation that you will take the necessary steps to rectify your status, whether by submitting an application to the Bar Standards Board for authorisation to practise as a licensed body and/or for approval of the non-authorised individual as a manager or by ensuring that the non-authorised person divest themselves of their interest as soon as is reasonably practicable, or by seeking a licence from another licensing authority , as the case may be. But note Guidance gS24
in the case of Guidance gS22.4, that you are seeking to appoint a replacement HOLP or HOFA (as appropriate) in accordance with the relevant procedure in Rule rS90;
in the case of Guidance gS22.5, that you are taking the necessary steps to exclude the relevant individual from the practice and, where necessary, you are taking steps to replace them; and
in the case of Guidance gS22.vi, you confirm whether or not you are likely to appoint a replacement non-authorised individual or, if not, whether you will be seeking authorisation from the Bar Standards Board to practise as a BSB authorised body.
gS24 -
In respect of Guidance gS23.2, it may be the case that a non-authorised individual obtains an ownership interest in a BSB entity following the death of a barrister or a non-authorised person . Similarly, a non-authorised person who has not been approved pursuant to the suitability criteria may acquire an ownership interest in a licensed body . In these cases, it may be that the BSB entity will not need to apply for authorisation to practise as a licensed body or for approval of such non-authorised individual (as appropriate) if the BSB entity instead satisfies the Bar Standards Board that it is taking steps to ensure that such non-authorised individual divest themselves of their interest as soon as is reasonably practicable (for example, on completion of the relevant probate).
F2 - Temporary emergency approvals for HOLPs and HOFAs
rS131 -
If a BSB entity ceases to have a HOLP or HOFA whose designation has been approved by the Bar Standards Board , the BSB entity must immediately and in any event within seven days:
notify the Bar Standards Board ;
designate another manager or employee to replace its previous HOLP or HOFA , as appropriate; and
make an application to the Bar Standards Board for temporary approval of the new HOLP or HOFA , as appropriate.
rS132 -
The Bar Standards Board may grant a temporary approval under this Section 3.F2 if on the face of the application and any other information immediately before the Bar Standards Board , there is no evidence suggesting that the new HOLP or HOFA is not suitable to carry out the duties imposed on them under this Handbook .
rS133 -
If granted temporary approval under Rule S132 for its designation of a new HOLP or HOFA , the BSB entity must:
designate a permanent HOLP or HOFA , as appropriate; and
submit a substantive application for approval of that designation in accordance with Rule S90,
before the expiry of the temporary approval or any extension of that approval by the Bar Standards Board , otherwise the Bar Standards Board may be entitled to suspend or revoke the authorisation or licence in accordance with Section 3.E10.