Licensed Access

We welcome instructions from non-legal professionals under the Bar Standards Board’s Licensed Access rules.

Licensed access is a useful licensing system, operated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB), whereby organisations or individuals who are suitable to instruct barristers can apply to the BSB to be licensed to instruct barristers directly. The licence can cover advice or representation or both and permit licensees to instruct barristers either on their own affairs or on behalf of their clients.

Professionals who may be eligible under the scheme include:

• Accountants
• Tax advisers (CIOT)
• Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
• Insolvency practitioners
• Architects, surveyors and town planners
• Insurers
• Actuaries
• Engineers
• Residential property managers
• The vital legal services we can provide include:
  1. Private client tax advice and representation
  2. Regulatory considerations for professionals
  3. Strategic advice to professionals (including partners and members of LLPs) on internal management and workforce issues

Licensed Access work is accepted by us under the auspices of the Bar Council’s Licensed Access Terms of Work, full details of which can be obtained from our Clerks.

The Bar Standards Board ‘Licensed Access Recognition Regulations’ tell you which organisations currently hold group licences.

If you are unsure if you can instruct a barrister at Ten Old Square please contact our Clerks who will be happy to help. Our Clerks will also provide you with clear advice on fees, availability and timescales.