About IPS
IPS was set up in 2008. It is part of the ILEX Group but
has its own Board of Directors to ensure its independence.
The board comprises four independent members, who are not lawyers,
and three professional members who are Legal Executives. It
is led by Alan Kershaw, one of the independent members. The
officer heading IPS is Ian Watson.
IPS is responsible for all regulatory matters affecting ILEX and
ILEX members. Its aim is to define, promote and secure, in
the public interest, proper standards of professional conduct and
behaviour among ILEX members. In formal terms, the
objects of IPS are:
- To carry out on behalf of ILEX the functions and
responsibilities of ILEX as an Approved Regulator designated as
such by the Legal Services Act 2007; and
- To carry out on behalf of ILEX such functions and
responsibilities of ILEX as regulator of its membership generally
as ILEX may from time to time delegate to the company.
IPS sees a major part of its role as ensuring the public and
ILEX members know what standards of education and conduct are
expected of them. We aim to help good practitioners stay good
and improve throughout their careers and to ensure the public know
the quality of work Legal Executives can provide. We are also
ready, when a question arises about the fitness to practise of an
ILEX member, to deal firmly, fairly and promptly with the
matter.
The Legal Services Act 2007 is redefining the legal
services landscape. ILEX is an Approved Regulator under the
Act but must separate its representative and regulatory activities
to ensure that it and its members meet the Act's objectives and
comply with its stated professional principles. You can read
the statutory objectives and the professional principles
here.
The protocols governing the working relationship between ILEX
and IPS can be found here.
Information about the strategy of IPS can be found on the
Governance page.