19TH November – After a lengthy period of discussion and debate since it was first published in October 2011 the Council of The Bar of Ireland welcomes the certainty that will hopefully finally be provided by the imminent enactment of the Legal Services Regulation Bill. The Council will lose its regulatory role in relation to barristers to the new statutory regulatory authority to be established. The new statutory disciplinary provisions and the costs provisions in the Bill when enacted will bring greater transparency in those areas.
However, the Council does retain concerns in relation to aspects of the Bill.
In the interest of both clients and the profession clarification is needed on the potential costs involved in the operation of the Legal Services Regulation Authority (LRSA) and the levy payable in respect of the expenses of the LSRA and the new disciplinary tribunals. In addition, the manner in which the levy applies (as set out in Part 7 of current Bill) is, we believe, unfair and imposes a disproportionate burden on barristers and, ultimately, on their clients.
Notwithstanding our broad support for the reform process, these are practical considerations that must be addressed.
ENDS