Today’s edition of Legal Week (UK) reports that “The Government has recruited an industry figure to hold a wide-ranging inquiry into the regulation of the legal profession in a move that could see the Law Society stripped of its regulatory powers.” The official announcement of the investigation, which may take 18 months, is expected to be made today by the Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA).
The article (written by James Lumley, July 24, 2003) note (emphasis added):
“A key focus of the inquiry will be the Law Society’s position as both the representative body for solicitors and the regulator of the profession, in light of repeated attacks by the Government and the Legal Services Ombudsman on the quality of the society’s complaints handling.”
“[T]he Government is already understood to be preparing to increase the powers of the Legal Services Ombudsman. The ombudsman is expected to be turned into a commissioner, with the power to fine the Law Society and Bar Council if they fail to meet their consumer redress targets.”
“The news comes in the same week that a Legal Week/EJ Legal poll of more than 100 partners uncovered strong support for the Law Society losing its dual role, with 64% of respondents calling for such a move.”
Legal Week also reports that the study will be looking into recent failures to police conflict of interest problems, while tackling controversial issues, including whether multi-disciplinary partnerships should be allowed.
A legal reformer could get envious seeing that there’s a nation where these issues are taken seriously by the Government and the regulatory scheme can be addessed on a nationwide basis, rather than fiefdom by fiefdom. [By the way, I discovered this Legal Week article while browsing the law-related headlines collected — from around the world, with emphasis on UK and USA — at In the Papers.]