Automated report. Written from the official Legal Services Board notice linked below and published after automated checks; not read by an editor before publication. Corrections: editor@law-week.com.
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published its response to the independent Public Bodies Review of the organisation, accepting the review’s recommendations and setting out a programme of changes to how it oversees legal regulators in England and Wales.
The LSB said its response explains the changes already made, the work underway and its timetable for further action. The regulator said oversight of the eight frontline regulators it oversees will be proportionate to risk, with fewer routine reporting requirements for regulators performing well and managing risks effectively.
Key points
- The LSB has accepted the recommendations of the independent Public Bodies Review of the organisation.
- It has introduced a more targeted, risk-based approach to oversight and established a dedicated regulatory oversight directorate with senior appointments.
- It has intensified oversight of the Solicitors Regulation Authority following significant law firm failures, seeking urgent improvements to protect consumers.
- It has closed active policy development on professional ethics and the rule of law, and decided not to proceed for now with a proposed statutory statement of policy on diversity.
- Consultation on the LSB’s proposed strategy for 2027-30 and its 2027/28 business plan is planned for autumn/winter 2026, with final publication intended for spring 2027.
What the LSB has changed
The LSB said it has already introduced a more targeted, risk-based approach to oversight and established a dedicated regulatory oversight directorate, making senior appointments to deliver its plans. It said it has intensified its oversight of the Solicitors Regulation Authority following significant law firm failures, seeking urgent improvements to protect consumers.
The LSB said it has brought active policy development on professional ethics and the rule of law to a close, and has decided not to proceed with the proposed statutory statement of policy on diversity at this time. It said its statutory responsibilities and oversight of regulators’ work on professional ethics and diversity continue. Work is also under way to improve complaints handling and access to redress, including supporting the Legal Ombudsman’s transformation so that more complaints can be resolved more quickly.
Chair’s comment
Monisha Shah, Chair of the Legal Services Board, said: “The Legal Services Board is committed to effective regulation in the public interest. We will prioritise our work more sharply on stronger oversight to protect consumers. Our strategic objective will be to focus on areas of greatest harm to consumers and where regulation can make the most difference.”
She added: “To that end, we will use our convening abilities to foster a shared understanding of cross sector risks and challenges, using data and evidence to make the regulatory system more effective. The PBR recognises that success will depend on co-ordinated change at multiple levels. We intend to play our part in bringing about a system-wide transformation of legal service regulation.”
Next steps
The LSB said it will work with frontline regulators, the Office for Legal Complaints, the Legal Services Consumer Panel and the Ministry of Justice to build a shared understanding of risks and coordinate action, and will support representative bodies and others where they are better placed to lead. The response will inform the LSB’s strategy for 2027-30, with consultation on the proposed strategy and 2027/28 business plan planned for autumn/winter 2026 and final publication intended for spring 2027.