Passion, strategy and the decisions shaping the profession
Summary
The article reports on debate at the Law Society AGM over proposed Rule 8.4 changes affecting who may act as COLP and COFA in firms with unilateral management authority. It also highlights wider concerns about regulatory accountability, consultation quality and the profession’s ability to influence decisions made by representative and regulatory bodies.
Why it matters
These issues are directly relevant to solicitors and firms because they affect compliance roles, governance arrangements and the way regulatory change is shaped. For residential property surveyors, the article is mainly relevant as a broader example of professional regulation, consultation and accountability in regulated property-adjacent professions.
Key points
- Rule 8.4 would restrict who can act as COLP and COFA in certain firms.
- The proposals are paused, not withdrawn, and remain a live issue.
- The AGM debate widened to concerns about regulatory decision-making and accountability.
- A confidence motion did not proceed because of the chair’s view on notice requirements.
- The article urges professionals to engage with consultations and attend meetings where decisions are made.
This is an RPSA summary of a publicly available article. The full content remains with the original publisher.
