LSB sets out options for ensuring the ongoing competence of lawyers

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has confirmed that it will develop and consult on a more robust approach to ensuring the ongoing competence of lawyers throughout their careers.

In a new report published today, the LSB notes that while legal regulators have comprehensive measures to make sure that legal professionals are competent when entering the legal profession, there are fewer formal or consistent checks in place to ensure ongoing professional competence.

The LSB’s report follows the call for evidence it carried out in 2020 and is informed by extensive discussions with stakeholders across and outside the legal services sector. It also considers approaches taken in other sectors such as financial services, aviation, healthcare, engineering and teaching, which generally have more systematic ongoing competence checks.

Research shows that most consumers mistakenly assume that lawyers are subject to regular formal checks. There is a clear misalignment between the current practice and what the public expects.

There is general agreement that legal professionals’ ongoing competence is vital to ensuring consumers’ trust and confidence in the sector. It would also help consumers avoid harm from poor quality legal services.

As the oversight regulator, the LSB must assist in developing standards of regulation in the legal services sector.

In its report, the LSB explains that it will proceed to develop and consult on new expectations for regulators, noting that these proposals are likely to encompass high-level expectations that legal regulators should:
  • set out the standards of competence that legal professionals should meet at the point of entry and throughout their careers; and
  • have mechanisms in place to:
    • identify legal professionals who are failing to meet those standards;
    • identify areas of increased risk to consumers;
    • respond when legal professionals fall short of the standards of competence; and
    • provide appropriate protection when there is an increased risk of harm to consumers.
Helen Phillips, Chair of the Legal Services Sector, said:

“Public trust and confidence are integral to the credibility of the legal services sector, and consumers need to know that their lawyers have the necessary, up-to-date skills, knowledge and attributes to help them with their legal problems.

“Many people assume that legal professionals are subject to ongoing formal reviews of their competence, but there are, in fact, very few routine checks once a lawyer has qualified. Legal regulators typically do not have systems or processes in place to identify or respond to concerns about competence. This is unusual and out of step with other professions which routinely adopt tools to ensure ongoing competence to promote public trust and confidence, and protect consumers from harm.

“We need to reshape legal services to better meet the needs of society, which includes ensuring lawyers remain competent throughout their careers. This will help increase trust in legal services, raise standards and improve access to justice.

“We look forward to discussing options with stakeholders, ahead of a formal consultation later this year.”

 

Kindly shared by Legal Services Board (LSB)

Main article photo courtesy of Pixabay