Section 8: The Consumer Panel, Legal Services Act 2007

The Board must establish and maintain a panel of persons (to be known as "the Consumer Panel") to represent the interests of consumers.

The Consumer Panel is to consist of such consumers, or persons representing the interests of consumers, as the Board may appoint with the approval of the Lord Chancellor.

The Board must appoint one of the members of the Consumer Panel to be the chairman of the Panel.

The Board must secure that the membership of the Consumer Panel is such as to give a fair degree of representation to both—

those who are using (or are or may be contemplating using), in connection with businesses carried on by them, services provided by persons who are authorised persons in relation to activities which are reserved legal activities, and

those who are using (or are or may be contemplating using) such services otherwise than in connection with businesses carried on by them.

The Consumer Panel must not include any person who is—

a member of the Board or of its staff;

a member of the Office for Legal Complaints (see Part 6), an ombudsman appointed by it or a member of its staff appointed under paragraph 13 of Schedule 15;

a member of the governing body, or of the staff, of an approved regulator;

an authorised person in relation to an activity which is a reserved legal activity;

an authorised person (within the meaning given in section 31 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (authorised persons)) in relation to regulated claims management activity (within the meaning given by section 417(1) of that Act (definitions));

an advocate in Scotland;

a solicitor in Scotland;

a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland; or

a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland.

The chairman and other members of the Consumer Panel are to be—

appointed for a fixed period, and on other terms and conditions, determined by the Board, and

paid by the Board in accordance with provision made by or under the terms of appointment.

But a person may be removed from office in accordance with those terms and conditions only with the approval of the Lord Chancellor.

A person who ceases to be chairman or another member of the Consumer Panel may be re-appointed.

Section 8: The Consumer Panel

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