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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, 13 July 2016

Recruitment begins for new Consumer Panel Chair

The Legal Services Board is today commencing recruitment for a new Chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel, to take over from Elisabeth Davies when she steps down from the Panel later this year.

Acknowledging the influential contribution made by the Legal Services Consumer Panel since it started its work six years ago, and the personal contribution made by Elisabeth Davis, Sir Mike Pitt, Chairman of the Legal Services Board said:

"The Legal Services Consumer Panel is a powerful advocate for consumer interests. Under Elisabeth's leadership, the Panel has provided invaluable advice to regulators on how they should prepare for the future (2020 Report) and championed the importance of open data.

Elisabeth has been the Panel's Chair since taking over on an interim basis in 2011 and then serving two full terms. Her drive and determination has seen the Panel go from strength to strength, with its evidence-based philosophy enhancing its credibility with a wide range of stakeholders.

I am delighted that Elisabeth will be continuing to make a positive contribution to public life with her new role on the board of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman."

ENDS

 

For further information, please contact our Corporate Director Julie Myers on 020 7271 0059.

Notes for editors:

  1. The Legal Services Act 2007 requires the LSB to establish a Consumer Panel to represent the interests of consumers. Members are appointed by the LSB with the approval of the Lord Chancellor.

  2. The Chair is paid an annual fee of £15,000 for at least 30 days work per year. Members are paid an annual fee of £3,380 for at least 13 days work per year.

  3. Elisabeth Davies was appointed as an inaugural member of the Consumer Panel on 1 November 2009 and acted as interim Chair from 1 August 2011 to 1 August 2012 when she was confirmed as permanent Chair. Her current term of office as Chair expires on 31 March 2017. Her departure date will depend on the start date and availability of the new Chair.

  4. Recruitment for a new Chair and a new Member of the Consumer Panel begins on 13 July 2016 and is being managed by Gatenby Sanderson. Full details can be found at www.gatenbysanderson.com.

  5. The LSB oversees nine approved regulators, which in turn regulate individual legal practitioners. The approved regulators, designated under Part 1 of Schedule 4 of the 2007 Act, are the Law Society, the Bar Council, the Master of the Faculties, the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives, the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, the Association of Costs Lawyers and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

    In addition, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants are listed as approved regulators in relation only to reserved probate activities.

  6. As at 1 April 2016, the legal profession in England and Wales comprised 145,059 solicitors, 15,288 barristers, 6,848 chartered legal executives and 5,697 other individuals operating in other areas of the legal profession such as conveyancing. The UK legal sector is valued at £32 billion per annum (2015) which is up 23% in cash terms since 2012. For more information see here.