M15 to Law Society

Sir Stephen Lander, currently director-general of MI5, has been appointed as the Law Society's first-ever independent commissioner.

The commissioner's primary role will be to oversee the Society's consumer redress scheme, which aims to find a swift and appropriate remedy for complaints against solicitors.

The commissioner will report on the operation of the scheme and make recommendations to improve it where necessary, and publicly if he so wishes.

The commissioner is appointed by, and accountable to, the Master of the Rolls.

The position is independent of the Law Society's Council, although the commissioner will provide periodic reports to the council.

Sir Stephen will take up the post in November, when he retires from the security services.

His tenure is for an initial three years, renewable for one further term of three years.

It is expected that the part-time role will take up two to three days a week and he will be paid 85,000.

Law Society chief executive Janet Paraskeva said: 'This appointment marks a watershed in the Law Society's programme to improve the service offered to the public, and to ensure that solicitors are made more accountable to their clients.

'As an independent lay person, not a lawyer, Sir Stephen Lander will give us objective advice as to how the standards of redress for the public can be made more effective and efficient.'

Sir Stephen said he was looking forward to working with the Society and the profession to help raise standards of service and improve the handling of complaints.