Public Access and Licensed Access represent a significant shift in how legal services can be delivered by barristers. These schemes remove the traditional requirement for an instructing solicitor and offer barristers the opportunity to accept instructions directly from clients, thereby enhancing both access to justice and the flexibility of the Bar. 

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has established comprehensive rules to ensure that barristers undertaking this work do so competently, ethically, and within defined legal boundaries. These include specific obligations found in the BSB Handbook, notably within rules rC119–rC131, and detailed expectations regarding client suitability, litigation conduct, and supervisory structures.

We will examine these rules in depth throughout the Public Access Training.

This module has been designed to support barristers in complying with their obligations under the BSB Handbook. It is not only a requirement for accreditation to undertake Public Access work, but also essential for understanding how to operate within the framework of rules that regulate such work. Whether you are newly qualified or an experienced practitioner expanding into Public Access work, this module will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate Public Access instructions and manage client relationships responsibly and competently.

- By the end of this module, you will understand:

- The regulatory framework underpinning Public and Licensed Access

- The practical steps needed to obtain and maintain accreditation

- The scope and limitations of what Public Access barristers can do

- Market trends and the advantages of Public Access work

- The benefits and risks of a Public Access practice