Ensuring robust separation between the Law Society and Solicitors Regulation Authority will be a priority of the Legal Services Board, its chairman has promised.

In a speech at the Law Society last week, David Edmonds highlighted the weight he places on the proper independence both of the board and in regulation by all the approved regulators, which also include the Bar Council and Institute of Legal Executives.

‘You should not under-estimate the amount of importance that the board will give to ensuring the reality of separation – and the clear appearance and communication of the fact,’ Edmonds said.

He expects his board to take ‘early action’ to define rules for separating regulation and representation, which differ for large and small bodies.

He attacked as ‘complacent’ the perception that the Legal Services Act reflected confidence in current practice. ‘If current systems were incapable of improvement, Parliament wouldn’t have given us the powers and duties we have – not least the pretty draconian range of intervention powers if things go wrong.’

Edmonds also indicated that he would look to bring forward the timetable for implementing the act where possible. ‘There are quite a few areas... where I want to explore whether we can force the pace of progress,’ Edmonds said.

SRA chair Peter Williamson welcomed the board’s intention to give priority to the issue of independence in regulation.

‘Our objective is to be a robust public interest regulator, working closely with consumer groups and with the regulated community to ensure that clients receive high quality, responsive legal services,’ Williamson said.

Des Hudson, chief executive of the Law Society, said: ‘The Legal Services Act will make the Law Society the approved regulator and require the Legal Services Board to ensure proper separation of regulation and representation.

‘The Law Society supports those provisions and is committed to making the new arrangements work well.’