Legal Services Board to drive improvements in access to the legal profession
23 March 2009
Responding to the Government’s Panel for Fair Access to the Professions, the Legal Services Board today makes clear its commitment to playing a leading role in the action to improve access to the legal profession for people of all backgrounds.
Commenting, David Edmonds, LSB Chairman said:
“The unique role played by the legal profession in our society makes it essential that it is open to anyone with the right abilities, irrespective of background. It must be seen to be so.
“The profession should select, promote and retain the best candidates, from the widest pool of talent to ensure that it reflects at all levels the diverse society it serves.
“The Legal Services Board has a specific statutory objective to encourage an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession. The Board is committed to playing its part in maintaining the impetus for real, long-term change. Promoting fair opportunities is therefore not an optional extra for us – it is central to our work.”
Recently established as the independent body to oversee the regulation of lawyers in England and Wales, the LSB’s goal is to reform and modernise the legal services market, putting the interests of consumers and citizens at the heart of the system.
Previewing its forthcoming Business Plan, the LSB’s evidence states that in its first year of operation it will:
- review current work on professional diversity;
- broker constructive working relationships between the profession, its regulators and the providers of legal education; and
- ensure that diversity and social mobility issues are at the heart of the model of regulatory excellence which the Board will develop.
The Board also hopes to work with the Panel to frame a long-term strategy, giving particular attention to career progression of marginalised groups and the interaction between lawyers and educational providers. It cautions however, that these initiatives will only command credibility if there are clearly defined outcomes measures, a focus on delivery and rigorous evaluation.
Notes for editors:
- The Legal Services Act 2007 provides for the creation of the Legal Services Board as the oversight regulator for legal services in England and Wales. The Act lists eight regulatory objectives for the Legal Services Board and the Approved Regulators of the legal professions. These include encourage an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession.
- David Edmonds, Chairman of the Board was appointment by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw, on 23 April 2008 and took up post on 1 May 2008. Nine ordinary Members of the Board took up their posts on 1 September 2008. Chris Kenny, Chief Executive, was appointed on 2 October 2008, and took up post formally on 1 January 2009.
- Cabinet Office Minister Liam Byrne announced the Panel on Fair Access to the Professions on 13 January 2009 and its call for evidence closed on 20 March 2009. More details can be found at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy/work_areas/accessprofessions.aspx.
- The Board’s submission to the Panel can be found on its website at http://www.legalservicesboard.org.uk/what_we_do/responses_to_consultations/index.htm.
- The draft LSB Business Plan for 2009/10 can be downloaded from the Board’s website http://www.legalservicesboard.org.uk/what_we_do/consultations/index.htm.
- For more information, please contact the LSB on 020 7271 0072.