Category: News

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has issued guidance to regulators, pushing them to be proactive in creating an environment that encourages lawyers and law firms to innovate to help better connect people to legal services. Produced following an extensive period of research, consultation and stakeholder engagement, the statutory guidance sets three outcomes. Regulators should ensure…

Read LSB issues guidance to regulators to spur innovation and widen access to legal services

New research by the Legal Services Board and the Law Society reveals that two-thirds of adults in England and Wales (66%) have experienced at least one legal issue in the last four years. The Legal Needs Survey 2023* looks at the legal issues and needs of individuals across England and Wales. The most common legal…

Read Two in three people have legal problems, but many don’t get professional help

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced an independent review of the Solicitors Regulation Authority’s (SRA) regulatory actions in the lead-up to the collapse of SSB Group. The LSB will add this review to the scope of its current review into regulatory events prior to SRA’s intervention into Axiom Ince (announced in December 2023). The…

Read LSB to review SRA regulatory actions in the lead-up to the collapse of SSB Group

The Board met in person on 26 March 2024. As is customary at this time of year, we discussed and finalised our plans for the next 12 months, focused on delivering our vision for legal services that meet the needs of everyone who requires them.   Maximising the benefits of good regulation in 2024/25  We are…

Read Chair’s Blog: 26 March 2024

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published plans for 2024/25 [PDF] on how it will ensure regulation contributes fully to delivering legal services that better meet the needs of society. The business plan is focused on the regulatory objectives in the Legal Services Act, which the LSB and regulators have a statutory duty to promote….

Read LSB publishes plans to strengthen regulatory oversight in the public interest

The Legal Services Board has confirmed its interim leadership arrangements while its Board recruits a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This follows Matthew Hill’s resignation from the role in January 2024, ahead of his departure at the end of March.   The existing three directors will share leadership responsibilities, while continuing in their current roles.  Richard…

Read Legal Services Board confirms interim leadership arrangements  

We regularly invite external speakers and guests to meet the Board to discuss our shared goals. This month, we welcomed Mike Freer MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Ministry of Justice. We enjoyed an extremely lively and productive conversation focused on creating a diverse and inclusive legal services profession that meets the needs of everyone who…

Read Chair’s Blog 27 February 2024

Following a decision by the Lord Chancellor to accept the recommendation from the LSB to accept the application from The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to cancel its designation as an approved regulator under the Legal Services Act (2007), this came into force on 29 February 2024. The LSB made a recommendation to the…

Read ACCA designation cancellation in force from 29 February 2024

The Legal Services Board today announces the appointment of Tom Hayhoe as the new Chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel from 1 May 2024. Tom succeeds Sarah Chambers, whose term of office ends on 30 April 2024. Sarah has served two three-year terms as Chair since 1 May 2018. Alan Kershaw, Chair of the…

Read Legal Services Board announces new Consumer Panel Chair

The Legal Services Board has today published a summary report of evidence on the use and misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), based on the experience of those who responded to a call for evidence last year. This report contributes to the conversations about the ethical conduct and practice of lawyers advising and facilitating on NDAs. The evidence…

Read Evidence NDAs used to cover up illegal conduct, promote imbalances of power and restrict access to justice published by the Legal Services Board

The Legal Services Board (LSB) today announces the appointment of Georgina Philippou as a new lay member of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). The OLC is the Board of the Legal Ombudsman, and this appointment has been made by the LSB in accordance with the Legal Services Act 2007. Georgina has an extensive career…

Read LSB announces new appointment to the Office for Legal Complaints: Georgina Philippou

Our first Board meeting of 2024 focussed on the important workstreams which will address the challenges outlined in the Reshaping Legal Services Strategy for the current year and beyond. It was exciting to welcome our first Boardroom Apprentice, Meena Sankar, who currently works in the construction industry and will remain with us until December 2024….

Read Chair’s Blog – 23 January 2024