News

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published a new collection of articles on legal technology by 11 individuals and organisations, including a judge, a national barristers’ chambers, tech firms and regulators. The publication comes as the efforts of everyone across the legal services sector are focused on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Technology is…

Read LSB leads lawtech collaboration and pushes regulators to explore new opportunities

The LSB directs the exemption [PDF] from the requirement for LSB approval of temporary alterations to approved regulators’ regulations that may be required as a result of the Coronavirus. The LSB has also produced Questions and Answers [PDF] for regulatory bodies.

Read [Exemption Direction] Exemption Direction 149 Blanket Exemption for temporary alterations required as a result of the Coronavirus

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published its business plan for the year 2020/21, with plans remaining flexible over the coming months as the legal sector deals with and then recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic. The LSB is also committed to playing a role in supporting that recovery. The business plan was agreed by the…

Read LSB publishes ‘flexible’ Business Plan and will support legal sector recovery following Covid-19

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has today confirmed the appointment of Elisabeth Davies to the post of Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC). The OLC is the Board of the Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales. Its Board members are appointed by and accountable to the LSB, which can set performance targets and…

Read LSB confirms new Ombudsman Chair and calls for improved performance and accountability

Covid-19 formed the backdrop to every discussion we had at Board this week. We know that the pandemic is having a profound impact on individuals and families across the UK. Equally businesses and institutions are impacted, including those that support access to justice and underpin the rule of law.  So while we reminded ourselves that…

Read Chair’s Blog – March Board Meeting

This statement follows the Government’s announcement on 16 March 2020 outlining measures to combat coronavirus (COVID-19). From 17 March 2020, the Legal Services Board (LSB) team will all work from home. We are otherwise operating as normally as possible and continue to be contactable by email and by phone. We are rearranging face-to-face meetings so that…

Read Coronavirus update – 17 March 2020

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Lisa Davis to the Legal Services Consumer Panel (the Consumer Panel). A former barrister, Lisa is currently Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Epsom and Ewell. The appointment comes as the LSB also progresses its plans to establish a standing panel of members of the public that can be…

Read LSB announces Consumer Panel appointment as it pushes for increased public focus

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has announced Elisabeth Davies as its preferred candidate to the post of Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) after an open competition. The OLC is the Board of the Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales. Elisabeth’s professional and voluntary career spans the charitable and public sectors. A former…

Read LSB announces preferred candidate for the Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints

By Craig Wakeford, Policy Manager  We recently organised an event entitled ‘can public legal education really increase access to justice?’, where we presented new research on legal capability. In answer to the question,  our report concludes that PLE has an important role to play in ensuring people can navigate the legal system, but it is…

Read Blog: Reshaping legal services so they work for everyone: the role for PLE

We have postponed our event on legal technology, which was due to take place on 26 March 2020. Our venue provider, which is an international business, has cancelled all its events in London due to the recent global outbreak of Covid-19. Due to the commercial risk in finding an alternative venue at short notice, which…

Read POSTPONED: Technology Event 3.30-6.30pm 26 March 2020

How can legal services regulation support responsible technological innovation that improves access to justice? As part of our work on legal services technology and its regulation, the Legal Services Board invites you to an event exploring different perspectives on the question: ‘How can legal services regulation support responsible technological innovation that improves access to justice?’…

Read Legal technology event – 26 March 2020

A new report by the Legal Services Board (LSB) urges the legal sector to design services that can be accessed by everyone. The report, ‘Reshaping Legal Services to Meet People’s Needs: An Analysis of Legal Capability’, shows that six in 10 adults (64%) experienced a legal problem in the last four years, including 53% (29.8million)…

Read LSB says the legal sector must design services that are accessible to everyone