Newsletter – August 2024
From the CEO
In July, we published our intended priorities for 2025 in a draft Business Plan for the coming year. With a focus on growth in the profession and improved communications, there is a lot happening at the CLSB.
Much of our work in recent years has sought to pave the way for growth in the Costs Lawyer profession. We do not seek growth for its own sake; rather, we want to build the profession’s capacity and reputation in order to meet growing client demand for a diverse range of costs services.
Last year, we implemented a new regulatory framework for qualifying as a Costs Lawyer and we accredited ACL Training to offer the new Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification from September. In 2025, we will build on this work through several initiatives designed to further support the profession’s growth.
- First, we will evaluate the success of the recent changes to our qualification framework, to ensure they are having the intended impact and that students report a positive experience.
- Second, we will work with ACL Training, government and employers to secure approval for a Costs Lawyer apprenticeship standard. This will provide a new pathway into the profession and open up funding opportunities for qualification.
- We will champion legislative change to enable Costs Lawyers to apply for judicial roles, including costs-specific roles and more generalist appointments.
- We will explore opportunities for Costs Lawyers to cross-qualify from and to other jurisdictions, taking advantage of post-Brexit trade agreements.
- And finally, we will build our understanding of the costs services being provided into and out of Wales.
This patchwork of initiatives will help to broaden the suite of possible career pathways for Costs Lawyers going forward, helping them look beyond traditional routes and harnessing the potential for the profession to better serve clients and the justice system in England and Wales.
Alongside our Business Plan, we have also published a draft budget for 2025 setting out how our activities will be funded. We are seeking your feedback on our proposals in this year’s practising fee consultation, which is now open. There are more details in the Regulatory News section below.
Kate Wellington
CEO