Policy
23 April, 2008
Jack Straw announces appointment of first Chair of Legal Services Board
Aim to 'put the consumer first and promote competition, innovation and transparency'
The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Jack Straw, announced today the appointment of David Edmonds as the first Chair of the Legal Services Board (LSB). He will formally take up post on 1 May 2008 for a three year term.
Commenting on the appointment, Jack Straw said -
'The Legal Services Board is a new office, created as part of the wider legal services reforms as embodied in the Legal Services Act 2007. The aims of the organisation are clear - to put the consumer first and to promote competition, innovation, and transparency.
As the first Chair, Mr Edmonds will take the lead in setting the strategic direction of the Board to ensure that these aims are met.'
The LSB will be independent from government and the legal profession. It will be a public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The Chair and other board members will be responsible for the design and outlook of the organisation, for establishing the new regulatory framework and for providing oversight of approved regulators and licensing authorities. The LSB will become fully operational by early 2010.
For more information, see the Ministry of Justice press release Jack Straw appoints first Chair of Legal Services Board.
See also the related rightsnet policy news stories -
- Legal Services Complaints Commissioner announces that penalty will not be imposed on the Law Society: Complaints not handled in accordance with 2006 - 2007 Improvement Plan (8 November, 2007)
- Legal Services Act receives royal assent: An independent body to handle consumer complaints about legal services (1 November, 2007)
- New Ministry of Justice appointments announced: Two new ministers with responsibility for legal aid and legal services reform (5 July, 2007)
- Justice - a new approach: Guide to the Ministry of Justice (14 May, 2007)
