Lord Pentland launches consultation on objectives for regulators of legal services

That is the view of the Lord President, Lord Pentland, as he launched a consultation on the ten objectives for regulators contained in the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Act 2025.

To mark the launch of this consultation, Lord Pentland hosted an event in Parliament House yesterday. The event was attended by victims minister Kirsten Oswald. Other attendees included Ann McKechin, chair of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission’s Independent Advisory Panel, now known as the Scottish Legal Services Consumer Panel; Douglas White, who is a member of the panel, as well as the regulators and others who have an interest in legal services regulation.

The Act creates a modern framework for the regulation of legal services in Scotland. Among other things, it introduces ten new regulatory objectives for regulators which protect consumers, give clarity to legal professionals about how they will be regulated and ensure that the regulators are accountable.

As the ultimate regulator, Lord Pentland wishes to reflect on what these new regulatory objectives mean, and how they should be applied by the regulators. He is seeking views on his draft regulatory statement before it is finalised. Anyone who has an interest in the regulation of legal services is encouraged to respond to this consultation, especially consumers, legal professionals and regulators. Responses should be emailed to LordPresidentConsult@scotcourts.gov.uk by 5pm on 2 December 2026.

Lord Pentland said: “The regulatory objectives require all the regulatory authorities, including me, to carry out our functions in a way which protects and promotes the interests of consumers and the wider public interest. We must also communicate effectively with bodies who represent the interests of consumers.

“The enactment of the new objectives gives everyone the opportunity to consider their scope and help to shape how they should be applied. It allows me to consider how the regulatory authorities can work more effectively together. It is important that we look collectively at what continuous improvements can be made across the whole system.

“I would encourage all who have an interest in the regulation of legal services to respond to this consultation, especially legal professionals, consumers of legal services, bodies which represent consumer interests and the regulatory authorities. All responses will be carefully considered.”

At the event held in Court 1 at Parliament House, Lord Pentland highlighted three ways in which the regulatory authorities should, where appropriate, promote and protect the interests of consumers and the wider public.

1. Holding public consultations where significant changes to regulatory rules, guidance or working practices are proposed.
2. Engaging with bodies that represent consumer interests, such as the SLCC’s Independent Advisory Panel and Consumer Scotland, about what is of interest to consumers and how best to take account of their views.
3. Working together to share best practice to help inform how each authority can satisfy this objective.

He further talked about the importance of the regulatory authorities working together, as well as the need for effective communication both between regulators and legal service provides and between regulators and bodies that represent the interests of consumers and the public interest.

The consultation documents can be found here.