External Board Effectiveness Review

The Legal Services Board (LSB) is looking to appoint a suitably qualified third party to undertake an external evaluation of the LSB Board. The last external evaluation was undertaken in 2022. In the intervening years internal evaluations have been undertaken. The Legal Services Board is the independent oversight regulator for legal services in England and Wales, established under the Legal Services Act 2007. Our role is to oversee the organisations that regulate lawyers and hold them to account for ensuring regulation works in the public interest and protects consumers. We also regulate the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and have oversight of the Office for Legal Complaints, which is responsible for administering the Legal Ombudsman scheme. The LSB is an Executive Non-Department Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The Legal Services Board is accountable to Parliament through the Lord Chancellor and is sponsored by the MoJ. The prospective professional services provider will be expected to deliver the following outputs as part of the Board Effectiveness Review: a. Project Plan which outlines key milestones, methods and timelines. b. Survey and Analysis: It is expected that, as a minimum, this will include a desk-based review of evidence (board papers, governance policies, minutes etc), a review of external best practice with specific reference to other regulators and ALBs, and interviews (can be undertaken virtually) of all Board Members, members of the executive, key internal and external stakeholders. c. Board Observation: The provider will observe at least one Board meeting and the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee in November to assess boardroom behaviours, interactions and decision-making in practice. Observation is likely to take place at LSB's autumn Board meeting 24 November (in person). d. Interim Findings: A draft report in January 2027 summarising initial observations, emerging themes and a presentation to the LSB Board should be s