Law Society comment: Legal Services Bill

30 October 2007

Commenting on the fact that the Legal Services Bill has today received Royal Assent:

Andrew Holroyd, Law Society President, said:

"Real progress has been made in the final stages of the Bill in meeting our concerns.  The legislation now makes it clear that the primary responsibility for regulation rests with the approved regulators and that the Legal Services Board should only interfere when their actions are unreasonable. These are vital concessions - without them we would have been heading for regulatory paralysis.

"Securing protection for access to justice where licensing Alternative Business Structures is concerned, and allowing Legal Disciplinary Practices with non-lawyer partners to develop in advance of more complex new models, are also two key achievements.  These will enable real benefits for both the profession and the public alike"

"Overall, we are encouraged that the new Act offers a workable template for a modern and effective regulatory structure, one which secures the independence of the profession and preserves access to justice without adding to the cost or complexity of regulation".