The controversial accreditation scheme for advocates has the support of judges and will go ahead, the chair of the Bar Standards Board has said amid a continuing dispute with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Lady Deech (pictured) told the Gazette that ‘discussions with the SRA continue’ over elements of the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (QASA), particularly the requirement that all advocates seeking to work at the two highest levels have their performance assessed by a judge. The SRA opposes this proposal, instead suggesting that plea-only advocates should be able to do non-trial work at the higher levels without being judicially assessed.

QASA, which sets a common set of standards at four levels of experience for all advocates, was due to be introduced last year. However wrangling between the two regulators has led to a delay in implementation.

Deech said she was certain that the bodies would find a way through, saying she is optimistic that an announcement will be made on the scheme’s phased roll-out ‘in the not too distant future’.

Despite last month’s attack on QASA by Court of Appeal judge Lord Justice Moses, Deech said that the judiciary is ‘on side’. ‘They are keen on judicial evaluation and see that there is no better alternative,’ she said. ‘If you want assurance about the quality of who is representing you, you need to know that they’ve done it in the arena that matters.’

Despite claims by solicitors that judges may be biased in favour of barristers in assessments, Deech said: ‘You have to trust the judges. If you don’t trust the judges, whole parts of the justice system collapse.’

SRA chief executive Antony Townsend said he remained committed to the scheme’s introduction and the SRA continues to work with the BSB, ILEX Professional Standards and other stakeholders. ‘We’re anxious to start implementing the scheme as soon as possible and hope that the BSB will join us,’ he added.

Neither the BSB nor the SRA would be drawn on what would happen to the scheme if the two regulators failed to agree - or who would arbitrate between them.