WELCOME

The Law Society has commissioned me to conduct an independent review of the future regulation of law firms. When I issue my final report by the early Autumn of 2009, my task will be to provide comprehensive advice on what is needed to achieve effective, proportionate and modern regulation for all parts of the increasingly diverse legal services market.

The Terms of Reference are as follows:

'In light of current and forthcoming changes in the Legal Services market, the differing needs of different types of client, current regulatory debates and the need to promote equality and diversity, to consider the appropriate regulatory rules, monitoring and enforcement regime to ensure high standards of integrity and professionalism for solicitors and their firms in all sectors, and to make recommendations.'

We have now reached the mid-way point in the Review. I am delighted to report that the Call for Evidence resulted in me and my team being inundated with submissions from a wide variety of interested parties. This has allowed me to write an Initial Response to Evidence document.  

This document is intended to encapsulate my interim thoughts. Nothing is written in stone and between the time of publishing the Initial Response and the signing-off of the final report, which I expect will take place in the summer of 2009, I remain open to persuasion on all or any of the points that I make.