England and Australia have abandoned self-regulation of the legal profession yet Canadian law societies continue to function on this basis. This article argues that the self-regulatory model on which the Law Society of Ontario (the “LSO”) operates represents an inadequate form of governance in terms of the accountability it yields. When compared to other organizations, including law societies in other common law jurisdictions as well as corporations, the weaknesses in the LSO's governance model are conspicuous. This article advocates replacing self-regulation in Ontario's legal profession with a co-regulatory regime. In the absence of such an extensive reform, this article puts forward recommendations for changes to the current bencher model of governance on which the LSO is based including the implementation of bencher expertise requirements and a duty of loyalty and a duty of care to the public.

This collection explores developments in the regulation of legal services by examining the control of the markets in several key countries and in jurisdictions within countries. The contributions consider emerging adjustments in regulatory structures and methods; examine the continuing role, if any, of professionals and how this may be changing; and speculate on the future of legal services regulation in each jurisdiction. The introductory and concluding chapters draw together similarities, differences and conclusions regarding directions of change in the regulation of legal services. They consider the emergence of alternatives to professionalism as a means of regulating legal services and some implications for the rule of law.

Self regulation and high ethical standards are considered the distinguishing and defining characteristics of the legal profession. Yet they are under attack from the state and the public. Why? Some argue that the legal profession's codes of conduct are a hotchpotch of rules without any clear ethical basis. For the first time in English and Welsh history,Boon and Levin systematically address these questions. The most important are as follows: Is self-regulation crucial to the survival of the legal profession? What fundamental philosophical principles govern ideas of professional conduct? Are the present codes regulating solicitors and barristers consistent with these principles? And, looking forward, are they appropriate when the legal profession faces radical social, political and economic change? These issues are of interest to everyone concerned with the dynamics of the justice system in England and Wales. Without an independent legal profession, is justice possible? Students, teachers and practitioners will find this the first comprehensive and interdisciplinary guide to and analysis of professional conduct and ethics.

The Professional Negligence and Liability Reports provides cases dealing with professional negligence arising in a wide range of professions, from surveyors and estate agents to doctors, solicitors and accountants

Who should be allowed to provide legal services to others? What characteristics must these services possess? Through a comparative study of English-speaking jurisdictions, this book illuminates the policy choices involved in legal services regulation a