£63,000 per annum 70days per annum
About the appointment
Introduction from the Minister
Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in the role of lay Chair of the Legal Services Board (LSB).
The LSB is an independent statutory body that oversees the regulation of the legal profession in England and Wales. This large, complex and vital sector employs around: 156,300 solicitors; 17,000 barristers; 6,800 chartered legal executives; and 6500 other legal professionals.
Too many people and business do not access the legal services that we know deliver better outcomes for them. The challenges are deep-rooted, and not all are amenable to regulatory solutions alone. However, the LSB intends to ensure that regulation better connects legal services to those who need them through sector-wide collaboration.
For example, by ensuring consumers have better access to information about the cost and quality of legal services, people will find it easier to shop around for legal advice and reward firms that offer high-quality, transparent and affordable services. By ensuring legal professionals have the right skills and ethics throughout their careers, public confidence and continuing global respect for the legal profession in England and Wales will be built and maintained. By promoting an open stance to technology and innovation, new ways of delivering services can enter the market to narrow the gap between providers and consumers.
As Chair, you will play a key role in leading and directing the work of the Board and reshaping legal services better to meet society’s needs. The LSB has identified a series of key challenges that need to be overcome to do this, such as: reducing the significant levels of unmet legal need; improving diversity at all levels so that the sector is better equipped to represent the society it serves; and supporting innovation in service design and technology to improve access to justice.
The successful candidate will need exceptional organisational leadership skills as well as the ability to scrutinise and challenge information and evidence to obtain best outcomes for the LSB. Just as important, I am seeking a Chair with exceptional communication and advocacy skills, who can build and maintain successful working relationships and partnerships.
If you have further questions about this post, you are welcome to contact: matilda.quiney@legalservicesboard.org.uk
If you have questions about the appointments process, you can contact the Public Appointments Team at: PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk or call Mark Lambert on 07540 263 645.
If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, I hope that you will consider in applying for this important position.
Appointment description
• Ensure that the LSB is focused on delivering its statutory remit to oversee a regulatory regime that supports and underpins the delivery of legal services in England and Wales, particularly taking into account the international position of those services and the nine regulatory objectives defined in the Legal Services Act 2007.
• Engage constructively with the approved regulators to hold them accountable, including against the LSB’s Internal Governance Rules, and ensure action is taken when standards are not met.
• Ensure the LSB adheres to the principles of better regulation and continues to fulfil its statutory duties and obligations as defined in the Legal Services Act 2007, whilst ensuring the LSB supports efforts to pursue greater diversity in the legal profession. Provide direction to the LSB and ensure that it has the resources needed and uses them properly.
• Work effectively with the Chief Executive and non-executive Board members to provide strong leadership to the LSB to ensure it adheres to the principles of good governance and to ensure proper accounts are kept.
• Ensure that there is a collaborative working relationship with the Ministry of Justice – as the sponsoring department – and the judiciary, and that good working relationships are established with other key stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with the general guidelines laid down by government relating to public bodies and ensure that the LSB fulfils any statutory or administrative requirements relating to financial accountability.
Organisation description
The Legal Services Act 2007 outlines our role and our responsibilities. These include:
- regulation of approved regulators and the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal
- oversight of the Office for Legal Complaints (which is responsible for administering the Legal Ombudsman scheme)
- making recommendations to amend the list of reserved legal activities
- setting up voluntary arrangements to improve standards (if required)
In all of our work, we must consider how best to promote eight regulatory objectives set out in the Act. This document explains how we interpret these objectives as we undertake our role.
Our tools
As an evidence-based regulator, we decide which tools to use to address any specific regulatory issues that we identify, based on the evidence available to us.
The range of formal and informal tools available to us include:
- advocacy and communications
- publishing research findings, best practice recommendations and guidance
- making statutory decisions (for example about proposed new rules and regulations, practising fees, or applications from regulators to regulate new areas)
- assessing regulatory performance (in general and in relation to specific thematic issues)
- agreeing action plans and monitoring performance against them
- using formal enforcement powers, and
- exercising other statutory powers – such as requiring the provision of information or reports by approved regulators or the OLC.
Regulation of appointment
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website
Person specification
Essential criteria
- A lay person, who has never been an authorised person in relation to an activity which is a reserved legal activity;
- A clear understanding of the work, priorities and challenges of the Legal Services Board and the regulatory context within which it operates including an appreciation and understanding of the role played by regulation in protecting consumers and facilitating economic growth;
- A proven and strong track record of delivery on significant policy/regulatory issues, at board level, within the private, public or voluntary sectors;
- Ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders such as regulators, the Legal Ombudsman, Ministers and senior government officials and the legal sector;
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen, accept challenge and constructively challenge others in discussions with clarity and respect;
- Effective decision-making skills with the ability to critically analyse a wide range of information to make clear and evidence-based decisions to support the delivery of the Legal Service Board’s objectives.
Desirable criteria
Experience of one or more of the following:
- Regulation in a professional environment;
- Consumer affairs or competition;
- An appreciation of the role of data and technology in delivering change;
- Senior strategic management and leadership;
- Experience of financial, public policy, communications;
- Chairing a Board in either the private, public or voluntary sector.