The Bar is not a referral profession, says Anthony Spaeight QC

Anthony Spaeight QC told barristers to stop calling themselves members of a “referral profession”.  His comments made at the 2009 annual Bar Conference in London recently suggested that the referral profession tag concealed the “most important characteristics and qualities of the Bar”.  Instead, he felt that barristers should refer to themselves as “the legal profession’s specialist branch”.

“Disposing of the image of the Bar as a referral profession and launching the concept of it as a specialist profession might assist both barristers and the public in the development of new ways of supplying cheaper legal services,” he said.

Anthony’s vision of the Bar Contingent Fund – “Bar CoF” – as a direct access, barrister-led service makes interesting reading.  The text of his address to the 2009 Bar Conference can be viewed here http://www.barcouncil.org.uk/assets/documents/Anthony%20Speaight%20Speech%20Bar%20Conference%2007112009.doc