The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is paving the way for barristers to go into practice with solicitors, but will leave regulation of the new legal disciplinary partnerships (LDPs) to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

In its second consultation on the implications of the Legal Services Act 2007 (LSA), the BSB proposes that the barristers’ code of conduct be amended to permit barristers to enter partnerships with solicitors - or with other barristers.

While the BSB will continue to regulate individuals, it is not considering becoming a regulator of the new business entities.

In line with its first consultation in February this year, the BSB’s new consultation, launched last week, says that the cab-rank rule should be retained for self-employed barristers. For LDPs by contrast, the rule would be commercially unworkable.

Ruth Evans, the board’s chair, said: ‘The LSA is aimed at increasing choice in legal services by creating a permissive framework for different models.’

The BSB, she said, has reached the view that barristers should be able to practise as managers of LDPs to enhance opportunities for clients to access the bar and to bring better value for the consumer.

‘The next step is to ensure that the appropriate regulatory framework is put in place to ensure that practitioners are able to operate in a way that supports the needs of consumers and the profession alike,’ she added.

Tim Dutton QC, the Bar Council’s chairman, said the bar had set up a high-level working group to respond to the consultation paper, which he expected would support retention of the cab-rank rule.

The SRA last year published amendments to the Solicitors Code of Conduct that would enable LDPs to come into being from March 2009.

The BSB’s consultation runs until the end of February.