BARMARK was launched on 5 July 1999. It is the Bar Council's scheme designed to recognise good practice management within chambers. The scheme is voluntary and is independently assessed by the British Standards Institution, with the final decision on awards taken by the Bar Council's BARMARK panel.

The QUALITY MARK is part of the Community Legal Service, a major government initiative launched in April 2000. The aim of the Community Legal Service is to improve access for the public to quality information, advice and legal services through local networks of services supported by co-ordinated funding and based on an assessment of local needs. For the Legal Services Commission's page about Quality Mark for the Bar click here.