*/
The Legal Services Commission (“LSC”) should play a “central role” in setting the standards for assuring the quality of legal services, according to the Chief Executive of the LSC.
Speaking at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum Keynote Seminar on 9 February, Carolyn Regan said that although the responsibility for assuring the quality of legal services should “sit with the regulators ... I am equally clear that the LSC, as a majority funder of legal aid services, has a central role in setting the standards by which we commission these standards. That is why we are following up the pilot work already carried out by the Centre for Professional Legal Studies at Cardiff University Law School with a discussion paper about quality assurance for advocates to be launched next week.”
Although it was “certainly for the regulators to take the lead on this ... our involvement should continue until we are confident that the necessary standards are in place to assure the quality of services on which clients depend,” she added. Speaking also about the warnings of “a looming crisis in the legal professions” she said: “We are told, for example, that changes which would open up the legal services market to other providers to deliver more flexible services for clients at an improved cost for the taxpayer, threaten the future of the Bar. At the same time, we know that the Bar’s vocation course was oversubscribed last year.”
Although it was “certainly for the regulators to take the lead on this ... our involvement should continue until we are confident that the necessary standards are in place to assure the quality of services on which clients depend,” she added. Speaking also about the warnings of “a looming crisis in the legal professions” she said: “We are told, for example, that changes which would open up the legal services market to other providers to deliver more flexible services for clients at an improved cost for the taxpayer, threaten the future of the Bar. At the same time, we know that the Bar’s vocation course was oversubscribed last year.”
The Legal Services Commission (“LSC”) should play a “central role” in setting the standards for assuring the quality of legal services, according to the Chief Executive of the LSC.
Speaking at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum Keynote Seminar on 9 February, Carolyn Regan said that although the responsibility for assuring the quality of legal services should “sit with the regulators ... I am equally clear that the LSC, as a majority funder of legal aid services, has a central role in setting the standards by which we commission these standards. That is why we are following up the pilot work already carried out by the Centre for Professional Legal Studies at Cardiff University Law School with a discussion paper about quality assurance for advocates to be launched next week.”
As we look ahead to Justice Week 2022, the sustainability of the Criminal Bar remains a critical issue for the government to address
Opportunity for female sopranos/contraltos in secondary education, or who have recently finished secondary education but have not yet begun tertiary education. Eligibility includes children of members of the Bar
Fear of the collection and test process is a common factor among clients, especially among vulnerable adults in complex family law cases. Cansford Laboratories shares some tips to help the testing process run as smoothly as possible
Casey Randall explains how complex relationship DNA tests can best be used – and interpreted – by counsel
Casey Randall, Head of DNA at AlphaBiolabs, explores what barristers need to know about DNA testing for immigration, including when a client might wish to submit DNA evidence, and which relationship tests are best for immigration applications
Julian Morgan reminds barristers of the top five areas to consider before 5 April
The case ofR v Brecanihas complicated matters for defence lawyers. Emma Fielding talks to gang culture expert, Dr Simon Harding about County Lines, exploitation and modern slavery
Barristers are particularly at risk of burnout because of the nature of our work and our approach to it but it doesnt have to be this way. Jade Bucklow explores how culture, work and lifestyle changes can rejuvinate our mental health...
Professionally embarrassed? The circumstances in which criminal barristers may return instructions to appear at trial have become clearer following the Court of Appeal judgment inR v Daniels By Abigail Bright
The Schools Consent Project (SCP) is educating tens of thousands of teenagers about the law around consent to challenge and change what is now endemic behaviour. Here, its founder, barrister Kate Parker talks to Chris Henley QC about SCPs work and its association with Jodie Comers West End playPrima Facie, in which she plays a criminal barrister who is sexually assaulted
Following the launch of the Life at the Young Bar report and a nationwide listening exercise, Michael Polak and Michael Harwood outline the Young Barristers Committees raft of initiatives designed to address your issues of concern
