The LSB, which oversees legal regulators, proposed ‘five outcomes for regulators to pursue’, in a consultation published this week, ‘Upholding professional ethical duties’. The outcomes include that regulators ensure lawyers have knowledge and skills regarding their ethical duties ‘both at the point of qualification and throughout their career’.
Poor ethical behaviour can range from unintentional oversights to serious misconduct, such as making false claims, distorting evidence, and pressuring vulnerable clients. The LSB highlighted ‘mutually assured irresponsibility’ where neither lawyer nor client is accountable for advice or resulting action, for example, where the former Post Office CEO said she ‘relied on advice from lawyers that they were following the Code for Crown Prosecutors in prosecuting postmasters’.
Craig Westwood, LSB chief executive, said: ‘Our evidence shows there are gaps in understanding and support that need to be addressed.’
The consultation ends on 29 May.
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