Proposed changes by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) to its Code of Conduct have been approved by the Legal Services Board (LSB) and will take effect from January 1, 2025.
A revised code of conduct was put to CLC in a consultation at the end of 2023, placing increased importance on knowing your client, high standards of professional conduct and promoting and supporting equality, diversity and inclusion in practice to ‘deliver positive outcomes for clients.’
The CLC said the revised code would ‘improve clarity and reflect the significant changes in practice and the societal context in which its firms operate.’
The Code of Conduct is part of the CLC’s Handbook, setting requirements and standards of conduct which must be met by the lawyers and entities that it regulates. Last reviewed in 2011, the new code introduces six new Ethical Principles which outline standards of practice that serve to protect and promote the interests of consumers; replacing the previous Overarching Principles
The six new Ethical Principles are
- Act with integrity, honesty and independence
- Know each Client and understand their specific needs, treat them fairly, keep their money safe, and act in their best interests
- Uphold the rule of law and public trust in the profession and legal services
- Maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct
- Collaborate openly and truthfully with regulators, ombudsmen, and other legal professionals;
- Promote and support equality, diversity, and inclusion in practice and service delivery.
Commenting on the updated Code of Conduct Sheila Kumar, Chief Executive, said:
“It was time for a comprehensive review of the overarching expectations we have of CLC-regulated lawyers. The substance of the changes may not appear far-reaching but this is because we took the opportunity to present the Code of Conduct more simply and clearly. The Ethical Principles enshrined in the Code therefore represent continuity of the high standards for which the CLC is known.”
The changes are said to ‘reflect the outcome of the 2022 consultation on the Ethical Principles and extensive engagement with the CLC’s Consumer Reference Group and governing Council’ and bring the Code of Conduct more in line with the nine regulatory objectives that all legal services regulators should meet as part of The Legal Services Act 2007.
“Substantial changes to the Principles in relation to equality and diversity and the need to know your client reflect the CLC’s own insight into these issues and how the world has changed around us since the Code was last updated.”
Added Kumar. The CLC will now embark on a series of roadshows to provide more information to members commencing November 11, in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Bristol.
One Response
Well I can think of an awful lot of CLC firms who fail those ethical principles. So CLC now you are bringing in the new Code of Conduct are you actually going to take firms and individuals to task for breaching them? Or are your firms and people going to be allowed to carry on as they are staining a great profession?
“Maintain high standards of professional and personal conduct”. Well I can think of two individuals already who have no chance of meeting those criteria in the Surrey/Hampshire area where I am based. One who I have already reported to you but you did nothing, the other who is a regular toxic presence on social media. Professional people are looking on closely CLC.