The Legal Services Board (LSB) today laid down its framework of internal governance requirements for legal regulators.

The LSB said that it has provided legal regulators with a clear set of criteria to ensure that regulation is carried out independently of professional interests. The new rules come into force on 1 January 2010.

The composition of regulatory boards, ownership of the appointments process for board members and the control and management of resources are all covered in the measures.

Over the last year, the LSB has consulted on the new framework with the eight existing approved legal regulators – including the Law Society, Bar Council and Institute of Legal Executives – as well as consumer organisations and other bodies involved with the delivery of legal services.

LSB chair David Edmonds (pictured) said: ‘These rules, shaped by constructive consultation, are a proportionate response to the risks that were identified as far back as the Clementi review. The new framework will provide the underpinning for consumer and public confidence in the independent regulation of lawyers – something that is crucial both for the commercial wellbeing of practitioners and the wider public interest. The time is now right to turn from issues of constitution and governance to implementation. Our focus, like that of the approved regulators, must quickly move on to the actual business of regulation now that these important foundations are in place.’

A consultation paper on the new rules is available here.