Costs lawyers now have an independent regulator to uphold professional standards. The Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB) formally took up its duties on 31 October after the Association of Costs Lawyers (ACL) delegated its regulatory role.

The association is the sixth and final approved regulator set up under the provisions of the Legal Services Act 2007 separating regulatory and representative functions.

The work of the five-person board will include setting and maintaining education and training standards for new entrants, continuing professional development and ensuring high professional standards amongst costs lawyers.

ACL chairman Iain Stark said: ‘This is a hugely significant event for costs lawyers everywhere: for the first time since the association was formed in 1977, costs lawyers will have an independent regulatory body.

‘It marks the coming-of-age for the profession and we must look to the future and embrace the reforms by diversifying and utilising our status as costs lawyers.’

The CLSB board, which has a lay majority as required by the Legal Services Board, is chaired by Graham Aitken, a chartered accountant for more than 30 years.

Costs lawyers can become partners in legal disciplinary practices and some have done so since they were introduced in March 2009.

The ACL changed its name from the Association of Law Costs Draftsman earlier this year. Previously, the ACL authorised those qualified as costs lawyers to undertake the reserved legal activities of litigation and advocacy by issuing a Costs Lawyer Practising Certificate; from now on it will be issued by the CLSB.