Liz Harris

The Legal Services Board (LSB) is the independent body responsible for overseeing the regulation of lawyers in England and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. Its costs are met entirely by a levy on the approved regulators of the legal profession. The LSB is both politically and financially independent of Government. The LSB was created by the Legal Services Act 2007 with a statutory mandate to deliver eight regulatory objectives including ensuring that regulation in the legal services sector is carried out in the public interest; and that the interests of the consumers of legal services are put at the heart of the legal system in England and Wales. The LSB became fully active on 1 January 2010, when the new regulatory regime was activated by statute. The LSB is responsible for appointing the Legal Services Consumer Panel as well as the Office for Legal Complaints, the body responsible for overseeing the Legal Ombudsman scheme.

The Legal Services Board (LSB) is the independent body responsible for overseeing the regulation of lawyers in England and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. Its costs are met entirely by a levy on the approved regulators of the legal profession. The LSB is both politically and financially independent of Government. The LSB was created by the Legal Services Act 2007 with a statutory mandate to deliver eight regulatory objectives including ensuring that regulation in the legal services sector is carried out in the public interest; and that the interests of the consumers of legal services are put at the heart of the legal system in England and Wales. The LSB became fully active on 1 January 2010, when the new regulatory regime was activated by statute. The LSB is responsible for appointing the Legal Services Consumer Panel as well as the Office for Legal Complaints, the body responsible for overseeing the Legal Ombudsman scheme.

The legal landscape has changed Clients, as informed purchasers, expect to be in control of their legal services, and part of the team. Lawyers want to be trusted advisors, bringing value to the table, rather than undertaking process work. The focus is on outcomes and return on investment, rather than the billable hour. Lawyers and clients value legal services by reference to the time spent and the tasks undertaken. This is not how other professional service providers work, nor how other purchases are made. It is time to change the value conversation because if that occurs, the lawyer/client relationship transforms. Law firms that can understand the client’s perception of value, and deliver services in a manner and at a price aligned with value, have a major competitive advantage in these challenging times. We can help clients and lawyers transform the relationship and the delivery of legal services to ensure an enhanced experience. Our expertise is in facilitating great relationships between clients and their lawyers, ensuring all expectations are identified, managed and met (or exceeded!) Sorting out the ground rules at the time of engagement develops trust, clarity, avoids later disputes, and ensures the working relationship is one where both parties gain value.