The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) has responded to the Legal Services Board (LSB) ongoing competence draft statement of policy.
Cara Elliott, policy and public affairs advisor at ACSO, said that given 'the way legal services are being sought, structured and delivered is evolving, it is essential that legal professionals acquire and maintain the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver legal services competently, effectively and ethically.'
'Though ACSO supports the LSB's proposal that each regulator should set their own standards of competence in their own competence framework, it is crucial that there is some basic degree of consistency across the sector to ensure best practice.'
Elliott also stresses the 'need to ensure competence assurance regimes capture useful experiences and measure the benefits of what has been learnt, rather than being concerned with the length of time spent on training courses.'
'Regulators must also develop an approach for appropriate remedial action to address competence concerns and/or violations. It is important, however, that there is some consistency across the sector of what this remedial action looks like and what breach of competency would merit such intervention.'
Nevertheless, 'it is encouraging to see changes in monitoring competency within the legal services sector. It is very much hoped that such changes will have a positive effect on consumer confidence in the sector and the standard of services received.'
ASCO members can download the full submission from the member's area of the website.