Law Society and
Solicitors Regulation Authority agree new governance
arrangements
The Law Society and the
Solicitors Regulation Authority today announced new arrangements
for the governance of the relationship between the two
organisations.
John Wotton, Law Society
President, said:
'It's vital for the
profession and the public that the Law Society and the Solicitors
Regulation Authority (SRA) cooperate to work effectively and
efficiently while retaining the SRA's operational independence.
These new arrangements streamline arrangements for the Law
Society's oversight of the SRA and provide a sound basis for the
future working relationship.'
The Chair of the SRA,
Charles Plant, said:
'I am pleased that the SRA
and the Law Society, working together, have been able to resolve
some longstanding issues arising from the implementation of the
Legal Services Act 2007, and have agreed to put in place
arrangements which will reinforce the SRA's operational
independence, ensure the effective management of support services
shared by the Law Society and SRA, and promote good working
relationships between the representative body and the
regulator.'
Ends
Note for editors:
The key features of the
arrangement are:
a. Agreement between the SRA and
the Law Society on a permanent resolution of how the relationship
between the regulator and the Law Society should be
managed;
b. The establishment of a new
Business and Oversight Board, with equal representative from the
Law Society and SRA and independent members, responsible
for:
Advising the Council on the
oversight of the SRA;
The delivery of shared services
functions to both SRA and the Law Society;
Director of Organisation
Services for shared services functions reporting directly to the
new Board.
c. There will be no change to
the SRA Board's functions.
Contact for media
enquiries:
SRA press office: Lee Shrimpton,
Media Relations Officer, 01926 487154
Law Society press office: Steve
Rudaini, Press Officer, 0207 3165624