A synopsis of panel session 5, which takes place on 6 October at ICLR Singapore, kindly provided by the session’s moderator, Susan Saab Fortney – Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Texas A & M University School of Law. Conference materials will be made available to ICLR.net members after the conference.
The session examines new regulatory approaches to handling complaints. The following identifies the participants and the focus of their remarks:
Mr. Gregory Vijayendran, the President of the Law Society of Singapore, will introduce the roles and functions of the first two professional disciplinary bodies (the Review Committee and Inquiry Committee) and their interface with the Law Society Council in practice. He will also discuss the genesis and raison d’etre of a new, nuanced Inappropriate Conduct in Court regime incepted last year.
Mr. Edwin San, serves as the Senior Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court of Singapore and as the Registrar in charge of the Disciplinary Tribunal Secretariat. Mr. San will discuss the work of the Disciplinary Tribunal Secretariat, the role and functions of the Disciplinary Tribunals, as well as the final stage of the disciplinary regime when the matter is referred to the Court of 3 Judges.
Ms. Kathryn Stone, the Chief Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales will explain how the Legal Ombudsman came about, what powers it has and how it is the alternative for England and Wales. She will also cover how the ombudsman scheme has moved away from self-regulation and the interesting challenges it faces due to Brexit.
Mr. John Elliot, the Regulator of Solicitors and Director of Regulation with the Law Society of Ireland. Mr. Elliot will provide an overview of the “multiple complaints scheme” operated by the Law Society of Ireland that allows the Law Society to impose special conditions on the practicing certificate of solicitors with a record of multiple complaints.
Mr. Robert Brittan the Deputy Commissioner of the Legal Services Commission Queensland will discuss the Commission’s approach to regulation, how they handle complaints, and their jurisdiction as opposed to other regulators in Australia. He will describe what the Commission can and cannot do and compensation for complainants.
Professor Susan Fortney, Professor & Associate Dean for Research at Texas A&M University, United States, will moderate the session.
Why is this session of particular interest and to whom?
Around the world many regulators are pursuing creative initiatives to advance public protection and improve the delivery of legal services. This session provides a window to look at new approaches used by regulators in four different jurisdictions.
What particularly do you hope to explore in this session? Any specific questions you hope to answer?
We would like to examine the importance of exploring new regulatory approaches and the practical challenges to doing so. We would like the conference attendees to reflect on their own experiences, considering the opportunities and challenges. In addition, we hope to provide a roundtable discussion of how we evaluate the success and effectiveness of programmatic changes.
What do you hope to achieve with this session?
We hope that the overview and roundtable discussion fosters understanding, helping regulators in tackling issues in their own jurisdiction. It should also provide an opportunity to learn about others who may provide insights and assistance.