What is the implementation time-line in England and Wales?
I know that the Law Society of England and Wales has done a great amount of work in looking at splitting its organization. LSEW is trying to anticipate as far as it can the pace at which the Clementi proposals will proceed. With the exception of the Bar Council, it is difficult to see much opposition to either aspect of Sir David’s proposals down south. The whole question of a General Election apart, it would appear that a white paper is likely to be issued later in 2005 with a bill in the autumn of 2006, royal assent the following year and probable implementation of the Legal Services Board and Office for Legal Complaints, and indeed splitting of the Law Society of England and Wales, in the spring of 2008. This can be described as “best guess” at this stage.
