Only 12 barristers register for QASA

Only a dozen barristers on the Midland and Western Circuits have registered for QASA, it has emerged.

The figure suggests that the boycott of the scheme by the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) is holding firm, despite last week's decision by the High Court dismissing a judicial review.

In the wake of the ruling it was announced this morning by the Joint Advocacy Group (JAG) that the timetable for registering for QASA would be extended by three months.

This gives barristers on the Midland and Western circuits until 30 May 2014 to sign up in the first phase of the scheme. Registration for the South Eastern Circuit will take place from 31 May to 3 October, and the remaining circuits from 4 October to 31 December 2014.

A spokesman for JAG, which is made up of the Bar Standards Board, the SRA and ILEX Professional Standards, said QASA would not, as some had suggested, be further delayed to take into account the government's review of criminal advocacy by Sir Bill Jeffrey. Sir Bill is due to report at the end of March.

"The judgment makes it clear that the regulators have a duty to assure the competence of those they regulate," the spokesman said. "The judgment notes that the Jeffrey Review will be of relevance to this duty and to the development of QASA but there is no suggestion, explicit or otherwise, that the scheme should be delayed pending its publication.

"A review of the operation of QASA during its first two years has already been agreed, and any relevant recommendations from the Jeffrey review will be considered as part of that."

The High Court recommended four minor changes to the QASA scheme, as a result of which JAG said an amended handbook to the scheme would be published by the end of February.

Responding to last week's ruling, Nigel Lithman QC, chairman of the CBA, said he was "extremely disappointed" but it "did not change the resolve of the criminal Bar to neither sign up to this flawed scheme nor work at reduced rates."

A spokesman for the Bar Standards Board said that, as of today, 12 barristers had registered for QASA.