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Announcements (Archive)

PAT 160025 - Recruitment of one non-lay member of the Legal Services Board.

Body
Legal Services Board
Appointing Department
Ministry of Justice
Sector
Judicial, Prison & Policing
Location
The role is based in London at the LSB’s offices near Tottenham Court Road (full address 2 Dyott Street, London WC1A 1DE). Board meetings are currently being held remotely, but there is an expectation that face-to-face meetings will resume later in 2021.
Number of Vacancies
1
Remuneration
£15,000 per annum
Time Requirements
30 days per year, for a four-year tenure

Campaign Timeline

  1. Competition Launched

    26/07/2021

  2. Closed for Applications

    07/09/2021 at 09:00

  3. Panel Sift

    27/09/2021

  4. Final Interview Date

    02/11/2021

  5. Announcement

    13/04/2022 at 11:00

Announcement

An announcement has been made on the outcome of this appointment.

The Lord Chancellor, after consulting the Lord Chief Justice, has approved the appointment of Habib Motani as a non-lay member of the Legal Services Board for a tenure of four yearsfrom 18 April 2022 to 17 April 2026.

Date: 13/04/2022

View Announcement

Assessment Panel

Panel Member
Annabel Burns
Added
26/07/2021
Panel Role
Panel Chair
Positions
MoJ Director, Judicial & Legal Services Policy. Departmental Official
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Dr Helen Phillips
Added
26/07/2021
Positions
Chair of LSB Representative of Organisation
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
The Hon Mrs Justice Yip
Added
26/07/2021
Positions
High Court Judge Departmental Official
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Political Activity-
Notes-
Panel Member
Jody Chatterjee
Added
26/07/2021
Positions
Independent Member
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Political Activity-
Notes-

Vacancy Description

As a member of the LSB you will be accountable to the Chair. Key responsibilities will include:

•           Working with the Chair and other Board members to give the LSB strategic and policy direction, for the LSB and across the sector, ensuring that the LSB has the necessary resources and that these resources are suitably allocated.

  • Providing strategic input into decisions around the policy and operational remit, organisational design, internal policies and procedures of the LSB.
  • Ensuring that the LSB adheres to the principles of better regulation and continues to fulfil its statutory duties. This will include:

Approval and recognition – The LSB is responsible for considering a range of applications from both existing approved regulators and those seeking to regulate a reserved legal activity, either as an approved regulator or as a licensing authority;

Monitoring and enforcement – The LSB monitors approved regulators’ compliance with their regulatory requirements, the Legal Ombudsman’s performance and the wider market places for trends, gaps and competition issues;

Compliance with regulatory requirements – Should it be necessary, the LSB has powers to ensure that approved regulators meet their requirements.

  • Working effectively with the Chief Executive to provide strong leadership to the LSB to ensure that it adheres to the principles of good corporate governance.
  • Ensuring accounts are properly monitored and maintained.
  • Engaging constructively with the approved regulators and establishing and maintaining good working relationships with all key stakeholders.
  • Ensuring that there is a constructive working relationship with the Ministry of Justice as the LSB’s sponsoring department, in the context that the LSB is wholly independent of government.
  • Ensuring compliance with the general guidelines laid down by government relating to members of public bodies and ensuring that the LSB fulfils all statutory and administrative requirements relating to financial accountability.
  • Representing the LSB externally at conferences, on committees and with other organisations as required.

Statutory Eligibility

Under Paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 of the Legal Services Act 2007, to be eligible for appointment as a non-lay member you must be or have been:

(a) an authorised person in relation to an activity which is a reserved legal activity;

  1. b) a person authorised, by a person designated under section 5(1) of the Compensation Act 2006, to provide services which are regulated claims management services (within the meaning of that Act);

(c) an advocate in Scotland;

(d) a solicitor in Scotland;

(e) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland;

(f) a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland.

A person is deemed to have been an authorised person in relation to an activity which is a reserved legal activity if that person has before the appointed day been—

(a) a barrister;

(b) a solicitor;

(c) a public notary;

(d) a licensed conveyancer;

(e) granted a certificate issued by the Institute of Legal Executives authorising the person to practise as a legal executive;

(f) a registered patent attorney, within the meaning given by section 275(1) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (c. 48);

(g) a registered trade mark attorney, within the meaning of the Trade Marks Act 1994 (c. 26); or

(h) granted a right of audience or a right to conduct litigation in relation to any proceedings by virtue of section 27(2)(a) or section 28(2)(a) of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (c. 41) (rights of audience and rights to conduct litigation).

For the purpose of the above paragraph:

  • “appointed day” means the day appointed for the coming into force of section 13;
  • “licensed conveyancer” has the meaning given by section 11(2) of the Administration of Justice Act 1985 (c. 61).

Person Specification

Essential criteria

  • Experience as a practicing legal professional or a legally qualified professional;
  • A clear and demonstrable understanding and appreciation of equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms;
  • Strong intellect and sound judgement as well as the highest levels of probity, integrity and other qualities that inspire confidence, trust and respect;
  • An understanding of – and a commitment to – the purpose of the LSB and its challenges;
  • Exceptional communication and relationship building skills, a high level of personal impact with the ability to provide constructive challenge and support to the Board and evidence in effectively dealing with stakeholders.

Desirable criteria

  • Track record of driving strategic change and improvement in any field;
  • A commitment to securing the public interest in respect of the provision of legal services.

And one of the following:

  • Experience of practice in the public sector;
  • Experience of practice in the third sector / provision for vulnerable consumers;
  • Experience of deploying technology in legal services.

Additional Information

For the successful candidate, confirmation of appointment will be subject to basic clearance checks, covering confirmation of identity and right to work in the UK, a criminal record check.  This will involve completion of several paper and electronic forms and can take up to five weeks to process following completion of the forms.

If you have questions about the appointment process, you can contact the Public Appointments Team at: PublicAppointmentsTeam@Justice.gov.uk  or call Kathy Malvo on 07889 415 433.

How to Apply

To make an application, please send:

A CV (maximum two sides of A4) detailing your qualifications, employment history and any appointments or offices you hold. Please also provide your preferred contact number and email address.

A personal statement (maximum two sides of A4) providing evidence against the role criteria and your suitability for the post, [insert for Chair posts] including evidence of leadership qualities and a vision for the organisation. Please consider the role and criteria carefully in preparing your statements. Information from AAP indicates that applications which offer specific and tailored examples against the criteria, making clear the candidate’s role in achieving an outcome are often the strongest.  Structuring the statement around the criteria using relevant headings also aids clarity.

Guidance on how to write a successful application can be found at Appendix 2.

Supporting Documents form (attached separately on cabinet office website)

Please also complete and return the Supporting Documents form which seeks the following information:

  • Conflicts of interest and Previous Conduct:  If you have any interests that might be relevant to the work of non-lay member and which could lead to a real or perceived conflict of interest if you were to be appointed, please provide details in your supporting documents.

Given the nature of public appointments, it is important that those appointed as members of public bodies maintain the confidence of Parliament and the public. If there are any issues in your personal or professional history that could, if you were appointed, be misconstrued, cause embarrassment, or cause public confidence in the appointment to be jeopardised, it is important that you bring them to the attention of the AAP.  Please provide details of the issue/s in your supporting letter. In considering whether you wish to declare any issues, you should also reflect on any public statements you have made, including through social media.

The AAP may explore any issues with you before they make a recommendation on the appointment. Failure to disclose such information could result in an appointment either not being made or being terminated.

Conflicts might arise from a variety of sources such as financial interests or share ownership, membership of, or association with, particular bodies or the activities of relatives or partners.  If you need further advice, please contact Holly Perry  at the Legal Services Board: holly.perry@legalservicesboard.org.uk

  • Significant Political Activity
  • Number of other public appointments held
  • Referee details – please give names/contact details of two referees (who will be contacted if you are shortlisted for interview)

Diversity monitoring – Please complete this online form. Information is requested for monitoring purposes only and plays no part in the selection process.  It will be kept confidential and will not be seen by the AAP.

Please send your CV, personal statement and supporting documents to: PublicAppointmentsTeam@justice.gov.uk quoting reference PAT 160025 in the subject line of your email.  We will acknowledge receipt.

If you have any questions about any aspects of this post, you are welcome to contact Holly Perry at the Legal Services Board at holly.perry@legalservicesboard.org.uk