Access to Justice-The Cab Rank Rule

The cab rank rule is a bedrock obligation for the independent referral Bar. It means that barristers cannot discriminate between clients, and that they must take on any case provided it is within their competence and they are available and appropriately remunerated.

Barristers do not choose their clients, nor do they associate themselves with their clients’ opinions or behaviour by virtue of representing them.

The cab rank rule:

• Promotes access to justice
• Recognises that it is for judges and juries to decide and to judge, and that passing judgment is not the role of advocates
• Imposes an obligation on the independent referral bar to accept work even from those with whom we profoundly disagree, and of whom we profoundly disapprove
• Means that our role and duty as advocates is, and is only, to advise, and then to represent, always subject to our duties to the court