Unregistered barrister disbarred over misleading legal experience on job application

Avatar photo

By Rhys Duncan on

8

Tried to secure role with Arden Uni

negotiations
An unregistered barrister has been disbarred for providing misleading information about his legal experience in an attempt to secure a university job.

Yasser Mahmood was called to the bar of England and Wales by Inner Temple in 2010, although never completed a pupillage or obtained a practicing certificate, and was therefore not permitted to practice as a barrister.

Despite this, a notice from the Bar Standards Board (BSB) states that Mahmood, in his application for a role at Arden University, claimed to be a practising barrister and “set out a range of work” he had undertaken.

The 2025 Legal Cheek Chambers Most List

For his actions, described by the bar regulator as “likely to diminish the trust and confidence which the public places in him or in the profession”, Mahmood has been disbarred and prevented from being issued a practising certificate until the end of any appeal that he might bring.

Commenting on the order, a BSB spokesperson said:

“The public should be able to reasonably expect that barristers are accurate in representing any practising history or entitlement to practise as a barrister. By dishonestly including such details, Mr Mahmood’s behaviour falls short of the high standards of integrity and honesty expected of those called to the Bar and the tribunal’s decision to disbar him reflects this.”

The tribunal’s decision is open to appeal.

8 Comments

Anon

I still don’t understand why someone can be “called to the Bar” when they have not completed pupillage.

Cowboy

Simply because in the olden days the rules were different . In 1988 there were people in my year at Bar School people who went straight from Call to joining the CPS as Crown Prosecutors whilst the rest of us completed pupillage . Strange ? Yes but that’s how it used to be.

Silent Majority.

True, but we’re 35 years down the line. It can be changed.

Cowboy

It was changed quite a few years ago but like many rules it did not have retrospective effect . People in this category used to have to describe themselves as “Barrister (non-practising.” ) Quite a few University Law Lecturers fell within this category . At least he can’t call himself a Barrister now!

Al

You are still called to the Bar before doing pupillage.

The only change is that, until you complete pupillage and obtain a practice certificate, you have to describe yourself as a non registered barrister.

Anon

Whatever historic explanation there might be, today it is very simple to move call to the Bar to post-pupillage. Then anyone who calls themselves a barrister has completed pupillage, even if they later stop practising.

If the BSB want to prevent the problems of individuals pretending to be barristers when they are not then they could reserve that title for those who have completed pupillage.

Anonymous

You may use “barrister” but it must be clearly stated you’re “unregistered barrister”. Nothing wrong with the rule, just those people who abuse it.

Critical Analyst

In a consultation paper addressed to the BSB called “Deferral of Call: ALBA’s Response”, constitutional and administrative lawyers overwhelmingly voted against deferring the call to the Bar after pupillage: The lawyers stated:
‘ALBA considers that deferral of call has manifest disadvantages in the public interest: it is likely to make the profession less diverse and more socially exclusive, diminishing the quality of the services offered to the public, and it is likely to erode the profession’s links with the legal profession overseas and with academic lawyers in this country. Deferral of call will not provide any significant additional protection for the public to set against these disadvantages, being based on outdated and incorrect assumptions about what qualifies an individual to practice as a barrister.’
I believe there is no need to change the status quo. Pupillage favours those who are privileged and connected. Even the lawyers themselves know that.

Join the conversation