23/11/2006

Minister welcomes Bain report on legal services

The Finance Minister, David Hanson, has today promised that the government will consider carefully the recommendations of a report into the regulation of legal services in Northern Ireland.

The report by the Legal Services Review Group, ‘Legal Services in Northern Ireland: Complaints, Regulation, Competition’ was published today.

Mr Hanson has also indicated that he will be seeking views from interested parties on the report’s recommendations.

The Minister said: “It is clear that the Legal Services Review Group led by Sir George Bain has considered the regulation of the legal profession in Northern Ireland in much detail during the 11 months in which it has been in existence. I am very grateful to Sir George and to the members of the group for all the work they have undertaken.

“I will be giving the report’s findings careful attention and I will also be asking interested parties for their comments before government responds formally to the proposals in the early part of 2007, subject to continuing discussions on the return of a devolved administration in March 2007. I hope that the way forward will ultimately be determined by a devolved administration.”

(EF/KMcA)


Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 April 2024
Views Sought from Public On Review Of Civil Legal Services
The Department of Justice has launched a public consultation, calling for views to inform a review of civil legal services in Northern Ireland.
08 May 2002
Radical overhaul of legal aid system proposed
In a major shake-up of the legal aid system in Northern Ireland the administration of the system may be handed over to a new independent commission. With net expenditure on the provision of publicly-funded legal services in Northern Ireland climbing to £37.7 million in 2000/01 from £12.
22 September 2005
Legal services and consumer rights reviewed
The regulation of the legal profession and the rights of consumers accessing legal services in Northern Ireland are to be examined in a wide-ranging review.
12 September 2022
PM Urged To 'Bin The Flawed Legacy Bill'
Prime Minister Liz Truss has been urged to "bin the flawed Tory legacy 'bill of shame' without any further delay". Sinn Féin MP John Finucane made the call during a speech at the Time for Truth demonstration in Belfast on Sunday 11 September.
25 January 2013
67 Legal Jobs For Belfast
67 jobs are to be created at a new legal centre in Belfast. Law firm Allen & Overy has received funding by Invest Northern Ireland of £348,400 to help create the jobs, which will be located at its existing Support and Legal Services Centre in Belfast. 43 of the jobs will be created as a result of role transfers from its US and European offices.