How to check a barrister on the Barristers' Register

Before you pay anyone to act for you in a legal matter, you should check they are who they say they are. For barristers in England and Wales that is easy and free: the Bar Standards Board publishes the Barristers' Register, an official online record of every barrister who holds a practising certificate. This guide explains what the register shows, how to search it and what to do if something does not look right.

What is the Barristers' Register?

The Barristers' Register is maintained by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), the regulator of barristers in England and Wales. It lists every barrister currently authorised to practise, along with key information about their authorisation. It is the only authoritative source for confirming a barrister's status.

Only people who have been called to the Bar and hold a current practising certificate can offer legal services as a barrister. Someone who was called but no longer practises cannot call themselves a barrister when offering legal services.

What the register shows

For each practising barrister, the register typically shows:

• name and any former names;
• practising address, usually their chambers or organisation;
• practising certificate status, confirming they are authorised for the current year;
• whether they are registered for Public Access, meaning they can take instructions directly from the public;
• whether they can conduct litigation, which is a separate authorisation;
• year of call and whether they are King's Counsel;
• disciplinary findings, where public.

How to search the register

1. Go to the Bar Standards Board website and find the Barristers' Register.
2. Enter the barrister's surname. Adding a first name or chambers narrows the results.
3. Open their entry and check the practising status and authorisations.

It takes about a minute.

What to check before instructing

If you plan to instruct a barrister directly, confirm three things:

1. They hold a current practising certificate. If not, they cannot act for you as a barrister.
2. They are registered for Public Access. Without this they can only accept work through a solicitor or other authorised professional client.
3. Their details match what you have been told. The name, chambers and year of call should match their profile and correspondence.

If you need someone to issue proceedings and file documents for you, also check whether they are authorised to conduct litigation. Most direct access barristers are not, which is normal.

Checking disciplinary history

The BSB publishes disciplinary findings on the register and on its website for a set period. A historic finding does not necessarily mean you should not instruct someone, but you are entitled to know and to ask about it.

What if the barrister is not on the register?

If you cannot find someone who claims to be a practising barrister, check the spelling and any former names. If you still cannot find them, do not pay them. Contact the Bar Standards Board, which can confirm status and investigate anyone holding themselves out as a barrister without authorisation.

Insurance and complaints

Every self-employed practising barrister must carry professional indemnity insurance, usually through the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, the barrister's chambers will have a complaints procedure set out in your client care letter. If that does not resolve matters, you can take your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman. Concerns about professional misconduct go to the BSB.

How Clerk&Counsel checks barristers

Clerk&Counsel is an intermediary and clerking service. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation. Before we introduce a barrister, we check their practising status and Public Access registration on the register, and we encourage every client to check for themselves too. Barristers instructed through us are independent legal professionals, regulated by the BSB and responsible for the legal services they provide.

Making an enquiry is free. If you instruct a barrister through us, a Clerk&Counsel service fee of up to £150 depending on urgency applies, shown separately from the barrister's professional fee before you decide.

Next steps

If you need a barrister and want someone else to do the searching, send us a short outline of your matter. You may also find it useful to read how to instruct a direct access barrister and our guide to Public Access barristers.

Frequently asked questions

Is the register free to use? Yes. Anyone can search it at no cost and without creating an account.

Does the register show fees or reviews? No. It confirms regulatory status only. Fees are agreed with the barrister or their clerk, and you should always receive a written client care letter setting them out.

What about barristers in Scotland or Northern Ireland? The Barristers' Register covers England and Wales only. Advocates in Scotland are regulated by the Faculty of Advocates, and barristers in Northern Ireland by the Bar of Northern Ireland.

How often is the register updated? It is updated regularly as practising certificates are renewed each year. If an entry looks out of date, the BSB can confirm the current position.

Should I ask the barrister about their experience too? Yes. The register confirms authorisation, not specialism. Ask how often they handle cases like yours, and read their chambers profile to understand their practice before you decide.