Regulators hope fourth time is lucky as revised timing for QASA unveiled

February 1, 2013

The controversial Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates is to be rolled out in September, the Joint Advocacy Group (JAG) has announced.

The revised dates for introducing the heavily delayed scheme are as follows:

17 June 2013: publication of the scheme handbook;
Phase One – 30 September 2013 to January 2014: accreditation period for the Midlands and Western circuits;
Phase Two – 10 March 2014 to 13 June 2014: accreditation period for the South Eastern circuit;
Phase Three – 30 June 2014 to 3 October 2014: accreditation period for the North East, Northern and Wales and Chester circuits.

The phase during which an advocate should seek accreditation will be determined by the principal circuit covering the region where they practise, the JAG said in a statement.

The JAG – comprising the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board and ILEX Professional Standards – also said: “When developing the timetable, JAG has had regard to the need to ensure that there is adequate time for communication with the profession on the detail of the scheme and what will be expected of advocates who come within it.”

The group also insisted that prior to implementation, those elements of QASA that required consideration after the fourth consultation would have been resolved.

The scheme will require the approval of each regulator as well as the Legal Services Board. A submission to the board is expected to be made in May.

The JAG had originally intended to launch QASA in December 2011, then it was put back first to April 2012 and then last month.

However, the scheme has been repeatedly criticised by the likes of the Law Society and the Criminal Bar Association.