Each year lawyers in the Netherlands must comply what the NOvA calls ‘quality tests’ to ensure they maintain their level of expertise. This means that lawyers must participate annually in the form of structured feedback: Intervision (a structured and periodic form of discussion within a peer group of professionals), peer review or structured peer consultation…
Bar Standards Board of England and Wales sets out plan to assure competence of barristers
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) of England and Wales has responded to the Legal Services Board statement on ongoing competence. The response comes with an action plan for ensuring the competence of barristers. Currently the BSB employs a number of measures to ensure competence including: The Professional Statement, which describes the knowledge, skills and aptitude that…
Solicitors’ rights of audience, competence and regulation: a responsibility rights approach
Ching, Jane. “Solicitors’ rights of audience, competence and regulation: a responsibility rights approach.” Legal Studies 41.4 (2021): 585-602. This paper takes as its context the decision of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in England and Wales to abandon before the event regulation of lower court trial advocacy. Although solicitors will continue to acquire rights of audience on qualification,…
Legal Services Board of England and Wales research shows public support for ongoing competence checks
Newly commissioned research by the Legal Service Board of England and Wales (LSB) as part of their wider work on ongoing competence, has demonstrated that the public places high importance on lawyers having up to date knowledge and skills, and the right attributes to provide high-quality services. The report also showed that there was a…
Legal Services Board of England and Wales release new report on ongoing competence
The Legal Services Board of England and Wales (LSB) has released a new blog alongside a newly commissioned report on ongoing competence. The blog highlights the fact that ‘the LSB’s work on ongoing competence is central to its regulatory objective to protect and promote the interests of consumers. Consumers should be able to trust that…
Legal Services Board releases options on ongoing competence
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published a new report on ongoing competence in the legal services sector. Confirming that it plans to develop this thinking further and consult on how competence can be assured over the course of a lawyer’s career. In the report the LSB points out that whilst legal regulators have comprehensive…