On 29 March 2021, we published a final strategy – Reshaping Legal Services [PDF]. This is the culmination of an extensive programme of engagement and evidence-gathering, including the State of Legal Sector 2020 report [PDF] that we published in November 2020.
The final strategy is also available in Welsh: Ailffurfio Gwasanaethau Cyfreithol Strategaeth sector gyfan. (PDF)
The golden thread of the strategy is the need to reshape legal services to better meet society’s needs. We identified a series of key challenges that need to be overcome to do this, and we have grouped these challenges under three themes: fairer outcomes, stronger confidence, and better services.
To track the sector’s progress in addressing the challenges set out in the strategy, we have launched a microsite. The site – www.reshapinglegalservices.org.uk – will be developed to share projects and ideas from the sector and help identify positive practices and areas that need more attention.
The challenges facing the legal services sector are deep-rooted and can only be addressed in the long-term. To do this, the strategy sets out a ten-year strategic direction (2021-31) and has a particular focus on the role of regulation in reaching this destination. The strategy also identifies priority areas of focus for the next three years (2021-24) and how the LSB will contribute to these priorities.
Reshaping legal services to better meet society’s needs relies on everyone playing their part. Cross-sector collaboration will be essential to overcoming the challenges in the sector, and we look forward to working with interested parties wherever possible.
If you would like to learn more about how the LSB will be working to overcome the challenges facing the sector, please read our business plan 2021/22 [PDF] and our activity schedule 2021/22 [PDF].
Developing a strategy for the sector
In November 2020, we published the State of Legal Services 2020 report, which gives an in-depth review of the legal services sector following ten years of independent regulation. It is informed by data, evidence and conversations with a wide range of individuals and organisations and research by the LSB and others. This helped us to build a picture of the most important areas for the sector to address.
The report has two volumes, a narrative section [PDF] and an extensive evidence [PDF] compendium.
Our report concludes that despite the achievements of the last decade, the legal services market is not working as well for everyone as it should be. The basic legal needs of many citizens are not being met.
Our strategy development work involved an extensive programme of stakeholder engagement, including a strategy summit in September 2020 and webinar in January 2021 [PDF].
On 09 December 2020, we consulted on both our draft strategy and business plan for 2021-22. The consultation closed on 05 February 2021. We have published the responses to the consultation.
Further information
You can read more about how the LSB will contribute to reshaping legal services to better meet society’s needs in our business plan 2021-22.
If you are interested in collaborating with us, please email contactus@legalservicesboard.org.uk.