Andrea KennedyDirect access to the Bar, albeit limited, has been with us for some time and pressure has grown from inside and outside the profession for such access to increase.

Last year the Office of Fair Trading, in its report on restrictive practices, recommended that direct access to the Bar should be extended. The Bar Council more recently launched its BarDirect scheme. This licenses organisations to instruct barristers directly, without the need to go through a solicitor.