FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
LSB to meet with the Counsel General and those with an interest in legal services
The Legal Services Board (LSB) will tomorrow visit Cardiff engaging with the Welsh Government, local and legal representatives, and others with an interest in legal services.
Hosted by Cardiff & Vale College, the Board of the LSB will be addressed by the Counsel General for Wales, Mr Jeremy Miles AM. This will be followed by a roundtable discussion chaired by member of the Commission for Justice in Wales, Sir Wyn Williams which will focus on access to justice and technology in legal services.
Counsel General for Wales, Jeremy Miles, AM said:
“The legal landscape in Wales is constantly changing and this discussion will be a good opportunity to address some of the key strategic challenges and opportunities facing the Welsh legal sector.
“With the development and creation of a Welsh legal jurisdiction and the devolution of justice under consideration by the Commission for Justice and with the progress of new technology, I would encourage law firms in Wales to engage fully with the debate around how best to respond to a rapidly changing landscape.”
Legal Services Board Chair, Dr Helen Phillips said:
“I am delighted that the Board will be meeting with the Counsel General, Sir Wyn and others during our visit to Cardiff. The Legal Service Board takes its responsibilities to Wales seriously and we hope that this visit will provide us with an updated understanding of the issues of most relevance to the Welsh Government and legal services in the country. I look forward to a productive discussion and a valuable roundtable debate. I anticipate that this visit to Cardiff will be the first of many as Chair of the LSB.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact the LSB's Communications Manager, Vincent McGovern (020 7271 0068).
Notes for editors:
- The Legal Services Act 2007 (the Act) created the LSB as a new regulator with responsibility for overseeing the regulation of legal services in England and Wales. The new regulatory regime became active on 1 January 2010.
- The LSB oversees ten 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 Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys, the Association of Costs Lawyers, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
In addition, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland is an approved regulator for probate activities only but does not currently authorise anyone to offer this service.
- As at 1 April 2017, the legal profession in England and Wales comprised 148,690 solicitors, 15,281 barristers, 6,809 chartered legal executives and 5,958 other individuals operating in other areas of the legal profession such as conveyancing. The UK legal sector turnover was £35 billion per annum (2017) which is up 25% in cash terms since 2012. For more information see here.