Legal Services Regulatory Authority holds its first meeting

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald welcomed the meeting as a “key step in the historical structural reform of the legal services and legal costs regimes under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015”.

Speaking afterwards, she added: “I am delighted that Dr Don Thornhill and the members of the Authority have held their first meeting today.

“He and his colleagues on the Authority will bring much experience, knowledge and direction to the roll-out of the new regulatory regime being introduced under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015.

“The new Authority is now an independent regulator in its own right.”

The Government has allocated start-up funding for the new Authority, though it will eventually become self-financing under a statutory levy on the legal professions. Short-term accommodation to accommodate a small start-up team has also been identified.

Ms Fitzgerald added: “My Department will continue to liaise closely with the Regulatory Authority in coordinating the phased and effective commencement of the various Parts of the Legal Services Regulation Act over the coming period.

“It is important to recall why we proposed this legislation and worked so hard to get it enacted last year. We have delivered on our commitment to establish independent regulation of the legal profession to improve access and competition, make legal costs more transparent and ensure adequate procedures for addressing consumer complaints.”