law commission

• LAW COMMISSION

  The law commission is an independent body created under the law commission act 1965. Its remit is to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reforms where needed. It aims to ensure the law is fair, modern, simple and cost-effective as possible.
• the law commission consists of a chair and four other commissioners. the chair is either a high court or an appeal court judge, appointed to the commission by the lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice for up to three years.
• commissioners are appointed by the Lord chancellor and Secretary of state for justice for up to five years, although their appointments can be extended.
• commissions are appointed on a full time basis but may undertake other work including judicial training and judicial service.
• under section three of the Law Commissions Act 1965, the duty of the Law Commission is to keep all of the law under review with a view to its systematic development and reform.
• advantages

  1. research is done by legal experts so it is likely to be comprehensive and accurate
  2. free from political bias
  3. different issues are considered
• disadvantages

  1. many of the law commission reports go unimplemented
  2. government is not legally obligated to consult the law commission about any new laws of its own it wishes to contribute