External Board Effectiveness Review

The Legal Services Board (LSB) is looking to appoint a suitably qualified third party to undertake an external evaluation of the LSB Board. The last external evaluation was undertaken in 2022. In the intervening years internal evaluations have been undertaken.

The Legal Services Board is the independent oversight regulator for legal services in England and Wales, established under the Legal Services Act 2007. Our role is to oversee the organisations that regulate lawyers and hold them to account for ensuring regulation works in the public interest and protects consumers. We also regulate the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and have oversight of the Office for Legal Complaints, which is responsible for administering the Legal Ombudsman scheme.

The LSB is an Executive Non-Department Public Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The Legal Services Board is accountable to Parliament through the Lord Chancellor and is sponsored by the MoJ.

The prospective professional services provider will be expected to deliver the following outputs as part of the Board Effectiveness Review:

a. Project Plan which outlines key milestones, methods and timelines.

b. Survey and Analysis: It is expected that, as a minimum, this will include a desk-based review of evidence (board papers, governance policies, minutes etc), a review of external best practice with specific reference to other regulators and ALBs, and interviews (can be undertaken virtually) of all Board Members, members of the executive, key internal and external stakeholders.

c. Board Observation: The provider will observe at least one Board meeting and the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee in November to assess boardroom behaviours, interactions and decision-making in practice. Observation is likely to take place at LSB's autumn Board meeting 24 November (in person).

d. Interim Findings: A draft report in January 2027 summarising initial observations, emerging themes and a presentation to the LSB Board should be scheduled to allow sufficient time for feedback prior to finalisation.

e. Final Board Effectiveness Report and Presentation in February 2027 setting out findings, analysis and evidence-based recommendations aligned to the review objectives should be presented to the Board.

f. A facilitated session in the form of a Board workshop to reflect on findings and support collective ownership and understanding of the recommendations.

g. A summary of the outcomes of the review is expected to be reported in the LSB's Annual Report and Accounts, and the Review will be made available to the sponsor department.

A tender is required which should include method statements, but not be limited to:

• A description of how you would work with us, the key people that will work the LSB and their background, experiences and skills.
• A description of how you will meet the service specification requirements listed in paragraph 18 onwards above, with demonstrable experience of conducting Board Effectiveness Reviews with regulators.
• A fully costed proposal with fixed and variable costs.
• A completed supplier questionnaire form (annex A).
• A completed EDI form (annex B).

Bids are expected to be between £30,000 - £35,000 with a budget ceiling for this work of £35,000 excluding VAT. Bids above this may be disregarded with no further evaluation. Bids should clearly indicate if they include VAT or not.

A breakdown of costs should be provided including where appropriate the different costs of different staff members.

Failure to provide any of the above details may lead to bids being disregarded with no further evaluation. Electronic completion and signing of the forms is acceptable.

Full details of the background, scope, scoring criteria and how to apply may be found in the invitation to tender attached to this notice.

All tender submissions should be submitted by 13:00 on 16 October 2026 to tenders@legalservicesboard.org.uk . Submissions submitted to other addresses or beyond this time will not be accepted.

Please contact Heather McLoughlin, Head, Corporate Governance, tenders@legalservicesboard.org.uk, if you have any questions or require any clarification. Enquiries received after the deadline of 9 October 2026 for questions may not be answered.

A summary of the questions received and LSB's response will be published on Contracts Finder.