WHAT the public and the Bar's key stakeholders think about barristers and the services they provide is revealed in the first ever benchmark survey of the profession, published today.
The study, by Ipsos MORI, was commissioned by the Bar Standards Board, which regulates 14,000 barristers in England and Wales, to inform its work in the interests of consumers, the wider public and the justice system.
The report observes: “Research conducted with those who come into contact with barristers suggests that most see barristers as competent, highly qualified and dedicated people, with specialist skills. In particular, the advocacy skills of barristers are perceived to set them apart from others.�
Key findings of the survey include:
* Barristers are seen to be of integrity, honesty and intellect, with 96% of solicitors and other instructors rating them as providing good or excellent advice and guidance, and even some 60% of prisoners sharing this view.
* 89% of barristers felt they spent enough time with their clients, versus 43% of prisoners, 57% of the public and 66% of solicitors and other instructors; and, while 62% of barristers felt clients were happy they had the chance to express any concerns, fewer than half of prisoners, lay clients and solicitors agreed.
* Concerns were raised by barristers about the quality of the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) with 35% of barristers feeling it does not develop relevant skills and 47% feeling there are gaps in the skills it provides. By contrast 93% of barristers felt that pupillages were effective.
* Regarding the Chambers system, 83% of barristers felt it facilitated a good quality service, however 31% backed greater direct access for clients and nearly a quarter arguing for partnership or corporate structures to be introduced.
* On regulation, 57% of barristers felt the current system was not effective at dealing with sub-standard barristers, and 50% said it was ineffective against the incompetent, though this could be explained by a relatively low awareness (36% familiar) among barristers of the systems and procedures of the relatively new BSB.
Conducted in two tranches, a first qualitative phase between December 2006 and March 2007 consisted of 69 interviews and two focus groups with barristers and those who use them. The second, quantitative, phase between July and August 2007 yielded 441 completed postal surveys from barristers, 97 from prisoners, and 159 from solicitors and other instructors of the Bar; in addition, 3,659 in-home interviews were conducted with a representative sample of the population of England and Wales.