Minister for Justice (): I am pleased to announce
the review of the Legal Services Board (LSB). It is best practice
for departments to regularly review their public bodies to
provide assurance to both Government and the public that these
bodies are operating effectively, and that their functions remain
useful and necessary. In the case of legal services, this
assurance is especially significant because the sector's
regulatory framework must remain demonstrably independent of
Government, a key pillar of the rule of law, and of public
confidence in our justice system.
The Government is committed to reducing regulatory burdens that
may stifle innovation and growth across various sectors,
including the legal sector. However, the legal services
regulatory framework is complex, encompassing a broad range of
professions and regulatory bodies, each with their own scope,
governance and approach.
Within this landscape, the LSB provides oversight of the approved
regulators responsible for the direct regulation of legal
services providers. We must ensure that the current regulatory
oversight arrangements are effective and do not duplicate
frontline regulators' work and initiatives. Robust and
proportionate oversight is also crucial in ensuring that the
sector continues to uphold the highest professional standards and
safeguard public trust.
It has been several years since the last review of the LSB in
2017 and, since then, there have been significant developments in
the legal services sector. These include the introduction of a
new regulatory objective, concerns around professional ethics
within the sector, as well as market developments - most notably,
the rapid increase in the use of lawtech. Given these changes, it
is timely and appropriate to review how the work of the LSB is
delivered.
This review provides an opportunity to consider the LSB's
statutory remit, its strategic clarity, governance and
accountability arrangements, and the LSB's current capabilities.
The review will assess how the LSB and the Ministry of Justice
should work together to deliver value for money and ensure
sufficient focus is maintained on the evolving priorities of
legal services consumers and the wider sector.
This review will also ensure that current arrangements actively
support the essential work undertaken by the approved regulators
and legal services providers. It will support the effective
delivery of the department's priorities for delivering accessible
and timely justice, for upholding the rule of law, and in
promoting our world-leading legal services.
I have appointed to lead on the review.
Richard is the Chair of the Independent Parliamentary Standards
Authority. He is an experienced senior executive and
non-executive director, with a strong track record of chairing
high-profile regulatory bodies and committees and a reputation
for integrity and commitment to public service. Richard has
substantial experience of transforming the effectiveness of a
wide range of organisations, improving operational delivery in
public and private sector services. He is independent from the
Ministry of Justice and will provide objective analysis of the
LSB and the department.
As part of this review, a call for evidence will be issued to
gather feedback and views. This will take place alongside
targeted engagement with stakeholders to inform the review's
findings. A link to the call for evidence can be found below.
https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/legal-services-board-public-bodies-review/(opens
in a new tab)
I will make a further announcement on completion of the review in
Summer 2026. Following this, I will set out the Government's
response.
