The Legal Services Board has appointed Dr Dianne Hayter as chairwoman of its independent consumer panel.

The panel, set up by the Legal Services Act 2007, will advise the LSB on the interests of all legal services users, including individual and business consumers.

LSB chairman David Edmonds said: ‘The panel’s analysis and recommendations will be essential in helping consumers feel confident that, in a rapidly changing legal services market, they are able to get the services that are right for them.’

Hayter said: ‘I am delighted to accept the challenge of helping ensure that the consumer voice is at the heart of the reforms the LSB will oversee.’

Hayter is currently chairwoman of the Property Standards Board, the Actuarial Stakeholder Group of the Financial Reporting Council and, until her new appointment starts on 20 July, the consumer panel of the Bar Standards Board. Recruitment of panel members will follow.