Lloyd, who chairs the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, led an Independent Public Bodies Review into the LSB, concluding in July that a major reset was required, covering culture change, clearer prioritisation, more collaboration with regulators and a stronger focus on oversight. Setting out its response last week, the MoJ agreed and said it would ensure ‘immediate improvements are not delayed in anticipation of future reform’.
CILEX chair Eileen Milner said: ‘The government has rightly accepted the need for a reset and refocus of the LSB, accepting all the recommendations of the Lloyd review.
‘The current regulatory framework is no longer fit for purpose and reform is critical if we are to protect and meet the needs of consumers, with effective regulation that enables rather than hinders a thriving legal sector.’
Law Society president Brett Dixon said the review ‘was right to conclude that the LSB should focus on its core oversight role, which is something we have long called for.’
Chair of the Bar Kirsty Brimelow KC said: ‘We support plans to increase the transparency of the LSB oversight as this has been lacking in the past.
‘We also support the realignment of some of the LSB activities including limiting its policy activities to correlate with its oversight role. We have been concerned for some time that the LSB has been going beyond its statutory remit, to the detriment of its core functions.
‘In addition, we want the LSB to prioritise its activities, with a sharper focus on consumer protection.’
The LSB accepted the review’s conclusions. Chair Monisha Shah said: ‘We intend to play our part in bringing about a system-wide transformation of legal service regulation.’
