SRA backs call for independent legal regulators
Solicitors Regulation Authority
The SRA Board has today welcomed the Government proposals to make legal service regulators independent from their representative bodies.
Speaking at the SRA Board meeting today, the chair supported the recent announcements.
Enid Rowlands, SRA Chair of the Board, said: “In our view, a key requirement for the regulation of any profession or market in the public interest is the confidence of the public. If the regulator does not have public confidence, it cannot do its job. The key to public confidence is independence and public accountability.
"It is impossible to see how a regulator could have the confidence of the public if it is also the body that represents those who are regulated. The public deserves proper independent regulation, and the profession deserves proper representation. But the two functions must be, and must be seen to be, separate.
"Modern regulation has to be independent and fully accountable to the public. We welcome the Government’s proposals and are looking forward to working with others as we explore the detail.”
