The Legal Services Board has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to their Practising Certificate Fee (PCF) rules.
The proposed changes are to Rule 10 of the PCF Rules which sets out the criteria against which the LSB will assess any application for approval of a PCF and Rule 11 which describes the evidence that the LSB will require when considering an application against the criteria when an increase in PCF is proposed.
Neil Buckley, Chief Executive of the Legal Services Board said: “The Legal Services Board (LSB) believes in the importance of reducing regulatory costs in legal services. Where possible we use our role in the oversight of legal services regulation to reduce costs to both the profession and the public.
“Practising certificate fee rules have been in place for six years and we think it is now time to test whether they continue to meet the purpose for which they were intended.
“We want to see the regulatory burden reduced and at the same time we believe that this reduced burden could also potentially contribute to a reduction in costs. I would encourage anyone with an interest an interest in the reduction of regulatory burdens in legal services to respond to this consultation.”
The SRA have welcomed the consultation. SRA Chief Executive, Paul Philip, said: “We welcome the changes proposed by the LSB, which are in line with our commitment to being transparent about the way that practising fees paid by solicitors and firms are used.
“We regularly communicate information with solicitors about how fees are calculated and how they are spent, and we are keen to do more. It is important that we are as efficient and effective as possible.
“Being open about how the fees are used helps to show that we are providing a value-for-money service to the profession and to the public.”
