The Bar Standards Board has moved to correct a regulatory anomaly that would have forced barristers doing very high cost cases (VHCCs) to work for the reduced fees being introduced by the government.

The regulator said the move was necessary because the Ministry of Justice laid down secondary legislation to amend fees paid to barristers doing VHCC work - cutting them by 30% - which could mean that the fees would for the first time be subject to a provision in the cab rank rule 'deeming' them to be reasonable fees.