BSB: Barrister Social Media Complaints More Than Double

• Complaints to the Bar Standards Board regarding barristers' social media posts more than doubled in 2025-26, reaching 279.
• The majority of these complaints, 192, concerned posts related to the Israel-Palestine conflict, with gender rights accounting for 42.
• The BSB's 2023 social media guidance focuses on the expression of views, with 'dishonest or discriminatory' posts triggering regulatory action.
• In 2025-26, 114 investigations were concluded, with 51% referred for disciplinary action, leading to 23 proven allegations at tribunal.
• Sanctions included 9 disbarments, 5 suspensions, 7 fines, and 4 reprimands, as the BSB faces pressure from a 29% increase in overall reports.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has reported a significant surge in complaints concerning barristers' social media activity, with the number more than doubling over the past year.

The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has reported a significant surge in complaints concerning barristers' social media activity, with the number more than doubling over the past year. According to the regulator's recently published annual report, 279 complaints related to social media conduct were assessed during the 2025-26 period, a notable increase from the 132 recorded in the preceding year. A substantial portion of these complaints, specifically 192, pertained to posts about the Israel-Palestine conflict, while issues surrounding gender rights constituted the second-largest category, accounting for 42 complaints.

This rise in social media-related grievances is part of a broader trend of increased engagement with the regulator. The BSB processed a total of 3,439 reports and general enquiries in 2025-26, compared to 2,614 in the previous year. Of these, 2,464 reports underwent assessment, marking a 31% increase from the 1,880 assessed in the 2024-25 period, underscoring a growing volume of regulatory oversight.

The BSB's social media guidance, initially issued in 2023, primarily focuses on the manner in which barristers articulate their opinions, rather than the opinions themselves. However, the guidance explicitly states that posts deemed to be "dishonest or discriminatory" are likely to trigger regulatory intervention. This framework aims to ensure professional standards are maintained even in online interactions.

The guidance outlines several categories of conduct that are particularly susceptible to scrutiny. These include comments directed at individuals or groups that are characterized as "seriously offensive, discriminatory, harassing, threatening, or bullying." Furthermore, sharing offensive content posted by others without clearly articulating disagreement, or making "gratuitous" attacks on members of the judiciary or the broader justice system, can also lead to disciplinary action from the regulator.

The BSB's annual report also detailed the outcomes of its investigative work, revealing that 114 investigations were concluded in 2025-26, an increase from 94 in the prior year. Of these concluded investigations, 51% resulted in a referral for disciplinary action, while the remaining 49% were closed after thorough investigation. A total of 28 cases proceeded to tribunal hearings, with allegations found to be proven in 23 instances.

Sanctions imposed included nine disbarments, five suspensions, seven fines, and four reprimands, highlighting the serious consequences of breaching professional conduct standards online. Phil Golding, the Director General of the BSB, acknowledged that the escalating volume of reports, which saw an increase of over a quarter (29%) in the last year, has placed considerable strain on the regulator's performance, affecting its efficiency and timeliness targets. In response, the BSB is prioritizing operational delivery, aiming to enhance its resilience against fluctuating workloads across all frontline services and implement organizational improvements to boost effectiveness and efficiency, with a key objective for the upcoming year being to meet targets and clear operational backlogs.

Barristers and legal professionals must urgently review their social media conduct in light of the significant increase in BSB complaints and disciplinary actions, particularly concerning sensitive political and social issues. Firms and chambers should reinforce internal social media policies to mitigate regulatory risks and potential sanctions for their members.

Source: Original reporting via Legal Cheek