Is the Secret Barrister not a Barrister of England and Wales ?

A complaint was made to the Bar Standards Board about The Secret Barrister on the 8th August 2024.

On the 13th August 2024, The Bar Standards Board replied “…It is possible the person may not even be a barrister”

Update 23rd August 2024 – Paul Embery wrote an article Crossing swords with the ‘Secret [and very intolerant] Barrister’

The Secret Barrister should not be confused with the BlackBelt Barrister.

A Google Search for The Secret Barrister shows that they are an Award-winning Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author much lauded by the public and legal profession.

The Secret Barrister states on their Secret Barrister website….

“The Secret Barrister is a junior barrister specialising in criminal law, and part-time author and blogger.”

The Secret Barrister also state (correctly) that they have won an award from the Law Society.

“In 2018, the Secret Barrister was named Legal Personality of The Year at the Law Society Awards.”

“In 2020, Channel 4 News produced a four-part documentary series, The Secret Barrister: Disordered Justice.” The series can be viewed here.

The Secret Barrister regularly posts on X (formerly Twitter) and they have a blue tick which shows that they are verified and a criminal lawyer.

Seems a bit odd that the Bar Standards Board don’t think the Secret Barrister is a Barrister !

If the Secret Barrister is not a Barrister then surely this should be of concern to the Bar Standards Board ? This would also be an offence under the Legal Services Act 2007 ?

It is highly likely that The Bar Standards Board know :-

The identity of the Secret Barrister
That the Secret Barrister is a barrister regulated by the Bar Standards Board

The Secret Barrister is, contrary to the email from the Bar Standards Board Contact and Assessment Team, most definitely identifiable and should be subject to proper investigation in the public interest.

The Bar Standards Board Corporate Services Team have been asked to explain. They have 20 working days to do so.

From: BSB Contact Us <contactus@barstandardsboard.org.uk>
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 2:48 PM
To: Dom Watts
Subject: RE: Reporting a concerns about a practising barrister (The Secret Barrister) 2024/1910

Dear Mr Watts

Thank you for your email and for sharing your concerns with us.

However, we are only able to deal with matters about a barrister that is identifiable, and it is the reporter’s responsibility to provide us with the name. It is possible the person may not even be a barrister; therefore, we will not be able to assess this matter further and the case is now closed in our system. If you want to make a report in the future, you will need to provide us with the name of the barrister and evidence of your concern.

We are sorry that we are unable to help at this time.

Kind regards,

Contact and Assessment Team

Bar Standards Board

Email: Contactus@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk

www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
Bar Standards Board Email – Secret Barrister