CLC Publishes Strategy and 2015 Business Plan

26 February, 2015

• Governing Council of CLC settles strategy of specialisation in regulation of property law services
• Focus on continued support for innovation and competition in context of high standards of consumer protection
• Builds on the regulator’s strengths and sets clear course for its fourth decade

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has published its strategy for a clear focus on specialist regulation of providers of property law services, principally conveyancing and probate and associated areas such as wills.

The CLC, which has taken a leading role in the evolution of legal services regulation, has considered how businesses will need to innovate in the regulated market place to meet changing client expectations and how the work of the CLC can best support this innovation and growth whilst maintaining and enhancing the consumer protections that are at the heart of regulation.

Chair of the CLC Anna Bradley said: ‘It is the CLC’s specialist approach to regulating property law services that has enabled us to support innovation, competition and growth while protecting consumers. The Council therefore intends to continue to develop the strengths of that specialised approach, just as we did when we extended our scope to regulate the provision of probate services.

‘We believe specialist regulation represents an important and successful alternative that should continue within any future structural framework for legal services regulation.

‘Since the appointment of Sheila Kumar as Chief Executive, the CLC has undertaken a thorough review of its work. We have adopted a strategy that builds on the specialized approach that has underpinned the success of the CLC over the last three decades and which we think will serve future consumers and those we regulate well.’

Chief Executive of the CLC Sheila Kumar said: ‘The strategy of specialisation sets a clear course for the CLC. We aim to deliver a regulatory regime based on a real understanding of those we regulate and what they do because we believe this to be vital to client protection. We have already laid the foundations for this strategy. In particular we have:

• made great progress in the provision of information about the CLC, especially online, making our operations more transparent;
• increased student numbers by 16% in 2014 showing we understand the importance to the whole of the legal services market of a strong supply of qualified Licensed Conveyancers and of providing attractive and accessible alternative legal career routes;
• had success in promoting our priorities for reform of regulation. We are looking forward to the ability to issue stand-alone licences to probate practitioners which should be delivered through the Deregulation Bill before the end of this Parliament; and
• delivered a major staff restructure to ensure we are appropriately resourced for the future.

Our sole purpose is to protect consumers and we are reviewing how we streamline our processes and enhance efficiency. All of this important work to strengthen our infrastructure is being delivered without any increase to regulatory fees.’

Notes for Editors

The CLC’s Strategy and 2015 Business Plan are available on the CLC’s website here:

http://www.clc-uk.org/CLCSite/media/Word-Docs/118842-CLC-Business-Plan-20142015.pdf

For further information please contact Stephen Ward on 07870 986 424.