Consumers will be able to claim up to £15,000 in compensation if their barrister is deemed to have let them down, after a decision by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) announced today (24 September).

The move trebles the maximum compensation available for 'inadequate professional services' from £5,000 to the new benchmark.

The increase, which is due to take effect by the end of the year, follows a review by BSB's Complaints Redress Working Group, which made the recommendation in May.

Meanwhile, the BSB has also approved recommendations that Bar disciplinary panels should be able to order barristers to apologise in the event of a complaint being upheld.

Commenting on the changes, BSB chair Ruth Evans said: "The BSB recognises that there are a small number of complainants who have suffered significant financial loss as a result of poor service and, as a result, it was appropriate for the compensation limit to be increased to provide the flexibility for those situations to be addressed."