The BSB sees Chambers monitoring as a positive step. Not only will it enable the BSB to gather information from Chambers in a systematic and formal way but, importantly for Chambers, it provides re-assurance that they are compliant with their regulatory requirements.

The aim of the monitoring exercise is to gather base line information from all Chambers on whether they comply with the regulatory rules and requirements in certain areas of Chambers’ practice and administration. Where non-compliance is identified, the BSB will seek to help Chambers to raise standards and to improve their procedures.

On 18 October, all Chambers, including sole practitioners, were sent by email a link to a questionnaire. This questionnaire covered four areas of regulatory requirements:

  • Chambers complaints handling
  • Equality and diversity
  • Pupillage
  • Compliance with the Money Laundering Regulations 2007


These have been chosen because they are areas where there are external requirements to monitor compliance or where there are particular concerns over consistency of compliance.

The questionnaire asked questions in each area in order to establish whether and how Chambers are complying with their regulatory requirements. Once the questionnaire is completed online, it is automatically sent to the BSB for analysis. Where non-compliance is identified, the BSB will contact Chambers to discuss how it can be addressed.

This is the first year of Chambers monitoring and we will use the results from this year and the lessons learned from the process to develop the scheme further. Chambers will be kept informed of these developments over the coming months.

If you have any queries about this year’s scheme please contact Lorraine Aziz on 020 7611 1444 or email laziz@barstandardsboard.org.uk