Consumer Panel

The Board has established a Consumer Panel to provide independent consumer-focused input into its regulatory and complaints-handling work. It is the first of the legal professional bodies to do so and is following the model of other regulators, such as the Financial Services Authority and Ofcom.

The Panel is an advisory panel of the Board and provides advice to the Bar Standards Board, its Committees an other relevant bodies from the perspective of consumers of barristers’ services. Its tasks are to:

respond to consultations on changes to the rules and procedures of the Board;
propose areas of work that the Board should consider;
consider research initiated by the Board and contribute to its development and comment upon the results;
publish advice given to the Board; and
publish an annual report to the Board.

Membership

The Panel is chaired by Dianne Hayter, who is on the Board of the National Consumer Council and is a former Vice Chair of the FSA’s Consumer Panel.

The BSB Consumer Panel’s membership comprises users of barristers’ services, and those who have a wider perspective on the legal system from the viewpoint of users. The Panel’s members are:

Dr Dianne Hayter (Chair)
Ms Caron Bradshaw - Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Mr Duncan Campbell - Legal Advisor, CBI
Mr Adam Creme - UNISON
Ms Fiona Freedland - Action for Victims of Medical Accidents
Mr Andrew Greensmith - Chairman, Resolution
Ms Sue Leggate - Which?
Ms Aleathia Mann - National Federation OF Womens’ Institutes
Mr James Molloy - The AA
Mrs Victoria Mortimer-Harvey - Association Of Personal Injury Lawyers
Mr John Rees - Director Of Central Services, Local Government Association
Mr James Sandbach - Social Policy Officer, Citizens Advice
Mr Chris Stanley - Head of Policy Division, NACRO
Mr Rodney Warren - Director, Criminal Litigation Solicitors Association

Consumer Panel advice to the Bar Standards Board

The Panel has provided the following advice to the Board:

Subject	Date
Consumer Panel Annual Report	January 2008
Deferral of Call	July 2007
Reaction to Complaints Commissioner Review of Complaints	July 2007
Public Access Review	April 2007
Entertainment by Barristers	February 2007
Complaints Commissioner Review of Complaints	December 2006
Deferral of Call	November 2006
Acceptance of Instructions

To contact the Consumer Panel please email consumerpanel@barstandardsboard.org.uk