ILEX Urges Clementi Not To Push For Separation Of Representation And Regulation

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

07 June 2004

The UK's Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) will call upon Sir David Clementi not to require professional bodies within the legal services sector to separate their representative and regulatory functions, according to reports.

The government-commissioned review of the sector conducted by Sir David put forward three proposed models for reform: one which would see the creation of an overarching regulator equivalent to the finance industry's Financial Services Authority (FSA), another model which would involve the creation of an umbrella legal services board, which would oversee the various legal services sector bodies in the exercise of their functions, and a third proposal which would see the industry bodies separate their representative and regulatory functions in addition to being overseen by the legal services board.

The Law Society recently ruled out the first reform model, but announced that it was unable to express a strong preference between the second and third proposals due to an element of uncertainty over the exact details.

In its submission to the consultation document released by the government earlier this year, however, ILEX has come down firmly in favour of the creation of an umbrella legal services board to oversee professional bodies, but without the further separation of their regulatory and representative functions.

Reporting on the submission last week, the Law Gazette quoted ILEX secretary general, Diane Burleigh as observing that:

"We have one of the most highly regarded professions in the world - there is not that much that needs to be changed."

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