SRA welcomes LSB consultation on independence rules
25 March 2009
The SRA welcomes the launch today of the Legal Services Board's consultation on the rules governing the separation of representative and regulatory functions of approved regulators.
SRA Board Chair Peter Williamson said: "Independent and transparent regulation in the public interest is a cornerstone of the Legal Services Act. It is vital that regulation of legal services is, and is seen to be, independent from representation of the profession, to secure the confidence and trust of consumers."
Chief Executive Antony Townsend said: "Robust governance arrangements for approved regulators, which clearly separate representative and regulatory functions, are critical to the delivery of public interest legal services regulation in England and Wales. We look forward to working with the Legal Services Board, consumer groups and the Law Society to achieve our objectives."
Note to editors
The SRA has already set out its thinking about separation as a contribution towards the debate.