The Law Society could not be further from the mark in accusing the Bar Council of ‘confusing the public interest with barristers’ interests’ in relation to the guidance which the Bar Council offers the profession on referral fees.

The negotiation, payment and receipt of referral fees are, as [Law Society director of legal policy] Mark Stobbs rightly points out, pernicious, and they are against the public interest. We have made that case constantly and consistently to government, regulators and the profession, and we will continue to do so.

I invite the Law Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board to join with the Bar Council in taking the case for referral fees expressly to be outlawed to the Legal Services Board, government and to the public. They must be stamped out.

Michael Todd QC, chairman, The Bar Council