IPS looks at new proposals for the regulation of
lawyers
ILEX Professional Standards (IPS), the regulator for Legal
Executives, has this week launched a joint consultation on
proposals for a scheme by a group of advocacy regulators to quality
assure advocates in the criminal courts.
The Joint Advocacy Group (JAG) was established by the Bar
Standards Board, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and IPS to
develop the scheme across the three professions. The consultation
paper sets out the framework for delivery and is inviting the
profession to give their views by 12 November 2010.
In its summary, the paper states that effective advocacy is
fundamental to the justice system; that members of the public reply
upon it for the proper presentation of their case and the courts
are dependent upon it for the proper administration of justice; and
that there is therefore a need for systematic and consistent
quality assurance of advocates by the regulators.
The proposed scheme will:
- build on the existing education framework for entry into
advocacy to develop a rigorous assessment process to ensure
adequate standards are attained at the start of an advocate’s
career;
- introduce higher-level standards and periodic
re-accreditation to ensure that advocates remain fit to practise as
their careers progress;
- have reporting arrangement for judges and others to refer poor
performing advocates for remediation or re-training;
- be managed by an independent body, accountable to, and with
oversight from, the three advocacy regulators.
Antony Townsend, SRA chief executive and spokesperson for
JAG believes that the scheme proposed represents a proportionate
and practicable approach to quality assurance of criminal
advocacy.
“It is fundamental to effective regulation that rigorous
quality assurance systems are in place to ensure that standards are
attained and then maintained. The scheme proposed is a cost
effective and straightforward solution which we believe is in the
public interest and will carry the confidence of the profession and
the judiciary. This consultation paper is an opportunity for
stakeholders to tell us whether we are right “
The consultation paper on proposals for a quality assurance
scheme for criminal advocates, is available on IPS’s website at
www.ilex.org.uk/PDF/IPS%20con%20doc%20JAG%20quality%20assurance.pdf
Posted 13.08.10