- The Legal Services Board (LSB) oversees the regulation of legal services in England and Wales. Although the LSB is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), it is independent from government and the legal profession. The LSB was established by the Legal Services Act 2007. It has been in existence since 1 January 2008 with full statutory powers from 1 January 2009. It is a unique body, whose role embraces economic, professional and consumer protection regulation.
- Working with the regulators we oversee, the LSB is responsible for advancing the public interest in the legal services market by protecting consumers and encouraging innovation and competition. In doing so, we aim to ensure that consumers have trust and confidence in the sector, and that services are delivered accessibly and at affordable prices. This, in turn, should help reduce unmet legal need and enable consumers to secure better deals, whilst also ensuring the highest standards of competence, conduct and service in the legal profession for the benefit of both individuals and the public.
- We have responsibilities in relation to the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC), including to ensure it administers an effective ombudsman scheme to deal with consumers’ complaints about legal services. We also oversee the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and have responsibilities in relation to approval of its annual budget and changes to its rules.
- The LSB’s focus is to deliver regulatory objectives set out in the Legal Services Act 2007. We aim to do so in a way which appropriately prioritises them, so that we ensure our focus is on areas which require greatest attention. Currently, that includes protecting and promoting the interests of consumers and the public, and in promoting competition in the provision of services to support innovation and economic growth. The regulatory objectives are:
- Protecting and promoting the public interest.
- Supporting the constitutional principle of the rule of law.
- Improving access to justice.
- Protecting and promoting the interests of consumers.
- Promoting competition in the provision of services in the legal sector.
- Encouraging an independent, strong, diverse and effective legal profession.
- Increasing public understanding of citizens legal rights and duties.
- Promoting and maintaining adherence to the professional principles of independence and integrity; proper standards of work; observing the best interests of the client and the duty to the court; and maintaining client confidentiality.
- Promoting the prevention and detection of economic crime.
- We set the performance standards for regulators and assess applications for changes to a regulator’s rules to ensure that any new rules align with the regulatory objectives. We aim to do so in an outcomes-focussed and risk-based way, rather than focusing on process requirements. We ensure that our work is well informed through regular research to find out what legal consumers need and how the market is responding, working closely with the Legal Services Consumer Panel who provide independent advice to the LSB about the interests of consumers of legal services.
- The legal profession currently consists of some 17,831 barristers, 170,298 solicitors and 15,014 individuals operating in other aspects of the legal profession such as conveyancing. The sector had a turnover of £55.8bn in 2025.
- LSB colleagues are not civil servants; the Chief Executive of the LSB and all staff are appointed by the organisation itself. It has a team of circa 48 and a budget of over £5.8 million.
- More information on the Legal Services Board can be found on our website.
- Please click on this link to view the biographies for our Executive Leadership Team and access our diversity reports.
Our Board Members and Relationships
The Legal Services Board currently has eight members, including the Chief Executive:[1]
- Monisha Shah (Chair, lay)
- Catherine Brown (Member, lay)
- Clare Brown (Member, non-lay)
- Christine Nwaokolo (member – non-lay)
- Gary Kildare (Member – lay)
- Habib Motani (Member – non-lay)
- Lizzie Peers (Member – lay)
- Richard Orpin (Chief Executive)
All members of the Senior Leadership Group are invited to participate in Board meetings, of which there are usually around ten each year. Board meetings are generally held in person in our offices in Stratford, East London.
LSB Behaviours
- We lead – we set the agenda, and through our convening power, we bring different people together to push for change.
- We innovate – We are creative in our approach to ensuring regulation evolves and benefits everyone in society.
- We transform – We use evidence to inform our work and to show its impact, because we are committed to making a difference for consumers.
- We communicate – We value openness, share knowledge, and promote access to justice.
[1] We currently have three Board Member vacancies.