Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Politics

Braverman ‘photocopying’ CV allegation is conduct even law students wouldn’t do, says leading barrister

The Bar Standards Board has refused to say whether it is investigating Home Secretary Suella Braverman after the Big Issue's story

Suella Braverman

“Even as a law student, you are told that to embellish something on a CV is verboten". Image: UK Government/flickr

Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s claim to have “contributed” to a legal textbook which the book’s author said she simply did some photocopying for is conduct even a law student would avoid, a leading barrister and best-selling author has said.

The Big Issue reported last week that Braverman claimed to have contributed to a textbook on gambling in a chambers profile – effectively a barrister’s CV – but the author of the book clarified she made “no written or editorial contribution”.

Braverman did not respond to questions about her contribution but the chambers said she requested the profile was removed from its website after the Big Issue contacted her.

Your support changes lives. Find out how you can help us help more people by signing up for a subscription

The Secret Barrister, a best-selling author and legal commentator, said the story was “deeply troubling” and told the Big Issue: “Even as a law student, you are told that to embellish something on a CV is verboten. For a practising barrister to include on a chambers profile something which is not merely an exaggeration but knowing false, is the type of dishonest conduct that should rightly attract the attention of the Bar Standards Board.”

“Solicitors and lay clients should be entitled to trust that, when a barrister asserts that they contributed to a legal textbook, they are telling the truth.”

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Get the latest news and insight into how the Big Issue magazine is made by signing up for the Inside Big Issue newsletter

The Bar Standards Board refused to confirm whether it had received or was investigating reports about Braverman, saying complaints and investigations were confidential.

“The BSB does not comment as to whether or not it has received any information about potential misconduct by a barrister regardless of how any information comes to our attention,” a spokesperson said, adding that its procedures are usually conducted confidentially unless they resulted in a listing for a Disciplinary Tribunal hearing.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

READER-SUPPORTED SINCE 1991

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Recommended for you

View all
What does Keir Starmer's personality type tell us about him?
Prime minister Keir Starmer on the phone
Psychology

What does Keir Starmer's personality type tell us about him?

There's no trust left in the world. How can we get it back?
Trust

There's no trust left in the world. How can we get it back?

Nationalisation, buses and homes for rough sleepers: This is what Andy Burnham's Britain would look like
Andy Burnham with Big Issue vendor Colin
Politics

Nationalisation, buses and homes for rough sleepers: This is what Andy Burnham's Britain would look like

Mad King George or Keir Starmer? Jane Austen fans on the Regency era ideas that can save Britain
Jane Austen

Mad King George or Keir Starmer? Jane Austen fans on the Regency era ideas that can save Britain

Reader-supported journalism that doesn’t just report problems, it helps solve them.

Every day, Big Issue digs deeper – speaking up for those society overlooks. Will you help us keep doing this work?