The two largest legal regulators in England and Wales have fallen short of expected standards, according to the latest annual performance assessment published by the Legal Services Board (LSB).
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) together regulate more than 90% of legal professionals in England and Wales.
According to the LSB, both organisations failed to demonstrate that they met the required standards.
Commenting on the report, Chair of the Bar Council's Regulation Panel, Stephen Kenny KC, said: "The LSB report out today does not contain any surprises and the Bar Council shares some of the concerns raised. The BSB needs to focus more on delivering its critical regulatory activities at greater pace, such as undertaking and completing disciplinary investigations and authorisation applications. Persistent delays are damaging to barristers, complainants and confidence in the system. The LSB has suggested more stretching targets for timeliness in the future which we support. We remain convinced the BSB should be focusing its resources on key regulatory activity rather than expanding its programme of activities."
Get the LSB report: Regulatory performance assessment (published March 2025)
Legal Futures has covered the story: Law Society and Bar Council criticise performance of regulatory arms