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Complaints procedures for
Solicitors and Legal Services
| General
Comment- |
The legal profession
is supervised by the various professional bodies. The Law Society for
England and Wales, for example, has the power to award compensation and
can discipline solicitors. Links to further information
have been given below if you are unsure of the procedures outlined here.
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| Step
1 - |
Local resolution
1: First you must take your complaint to the solicitor, barrister,
legal executive or patent agent concerned. Most complaints can be resolved
on a personal basis or with the head person. If your complaint is not
adequately handled then proceed to step 2.
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| Step 2 - |
Local resolution
2: The next step is to take your complaint to the professional body
that the solicitor or barrister belongs to (listed below). These organisations
will have a system for dealing with complaints against their members,
therefore the matter should be investigated and a decision reached. If
you are not satisfied with this decision, then proceed to step 3.
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| Step 3 - |
Authorities:
The Legal Services Ombudsman is the next stage. The Ombudsman will
investigate the decision made by the professional body only and will not
examine your original complaint. Therefore the action resulting from the
Ombudsman's decision will be carried out against the professional body.
If you dispute the decision of the Ombudsman you may ask the Service Manager
to investigate.
You can also contact your local Trading
Standards Office or Citizens'
Advice Bureau. They will give you free advice and may take up your
complaint for you.
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| Step 4 - |
Court: Failing
all else you can still go to court to resolve your dispute. Details of
small claims court and other procedures are given in the Legal Section
of this site. You can also contact the Community Legal Service (justask.org.uk)
that gives access to free advice. Otherwise your local Citizens' Advice
Bureau will give you advice and will sometimes organise free legal representation
for you.
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If you are at all unsure
about any of these steps or would like further information please use the list
of Information links given below. If you click on the  icon the relevant site will open a new window.
Links to Information
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The Law
Society's Office for the Supervision of Solicitors is the relevant professional
body for action against solicitors in England and Wales. |
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The General
Council of the Bar Complaints is the professional body for barristers |
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The Chartered
Institute of Patent Agents is the professional body for Patent Agents |
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The Legal
Services Ombudsman |
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The Office
of Fair Trading website includes general advice on consumer rights. |
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The Trading
Standards Institute website includes leaflets giving advice on a range of
consumer goods and services. |
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Citzens'
Advice Bureau |
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