Preferred Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints announced

David Edmonds, Chairman of the Legal Services Board (LSB), has announced that Elizabeth France was the LSB's choice for the position of Chair of the Office for Legal Complaints (OLC).

Mrs France, whose selection has also been approved by the Lord Chancellor, will appear before the Justice Select Committee on 21 October as the preferred candidate for the position.

David Edmonds said: "Elizabeth has an outstanding record of achievement in consumer protection and redress and would offer the OLC considerable insight and experience. Subject to the Select Committee's approval of Elizabeth's appointment, I look forward to working with her in driving forward the implementation of the OLC and as an immediate priority appointing the rest of the OLC Board members."

Mrs France has been the Chief Ombudsman and Chief Executive of the Ombudsman Services LTD (TOSL) since October 2002. She was previously the Information Commissioner for eight years, prior to which her career had been as a civil servant in the Home Office.

The Office for Legal Complaints will administer an ombudsman scheme that will deal with all consumer complaints about legal services. The current timetable will see the OLC implemented by the end of 2010.