03 December 2008

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has called for all appointments to regulatory boards to remain independent.

Designate chief executive of the LSB Chris Kenny issued an open letter to all off the approved regulators designated under the Legal Services Act.

In it he explained that the body considers separation of regulatory and representative functions to be particularly important, in keeping with both the letter and spirit of the law.

"It is essential that any appointments process for members of a regulatory board must be - and must be seen to be - capable of producing a demonstrably qualified and genuinely independent regulatory organisation," wrote Mr Kenny.

His comments came following those made recently by the board's chairman, David Edmonds.

New measures allowing a greater variety of people in legal professions to apply to become judges were recently announced.

Under the new rulings those in legal executive positions can now be appointed.