Legal Complaints Service
In England and Wales, the Legal Complaints Service is a body that formally investigates complaints about solicitors. It is, in its turn, regulated by the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner.
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[edit] Background
Solicitors in England and Wales are both represented and regulated by the Law Society and, before 2007, the Society investigated complaints about its members through its Legal Complaints Service (LCS).[citation needed] However, in September 2003, Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer, criticised the Society, saying:[1]
Unfortunately in spite of all efforts, complaints handling is still not efficient and effective.
As a result, in February 2004 the Lord Chancellor exercised his powers under the Access to Justice Act 1999[2] to appoint a Legal Services Complaints Commissioner to regulate the Society.[1] In response to the Commissioner's criticisms, in 2005, the Law Society divided its functions among the Society, the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Legal Complaints Service but by May 2006, the Society's efforts to remedy its own deficiencies were still giving concern to the Commissioner.[3] As a result, a penalty of £220,000 was levied.[4] The Commissioner subsequently recognised that progress was being made[4] and on 22 February 2007, the Service came into being.[citation needed] In April 2007, the Commissioner advised the Society that their Complaints Handling Plan adequately addressed the concerns.[5] However, in April 2008, the Commissioner reported that "Results show that despite some improvements in all target areas set, there are still failures ... to consistently apply their policies, processes and customer standards."[6] On 3 June 2008, the Commissioner fined the Law Society £275,000 over the inadequacy of its complaints handling plan for the forthcoming year.[7]
[edit] The Service
The Service is a complaints handling body, quasi-independent of the Society. It is still part of the Law Society, but it is said to operate independently.[citation needed] The services offered to consumers are confidential and free at the point of use, the profession having rejected the idea of charging a flat fee as do some other professional complaints services, for example that of architects.[citation needed] Where a complaint is upheld the firm complained of may be required to make a contribution to the costs incurred by the Service in dealing with the complaint.[citation needed] Each case is said to be looked at impartially, the Service working to find a solution acceptable to everyone concerned, including the lawyer, who is a member of the Service's parent body, the Law Society.[citation needed]
The Service's Chief Executive, Deborah Evans, said:[citation needed]
The organisation’s vision, an independent, responsive, Legal Complaints Service of quality, mirrors our purpose which is to resolve problems such as a solicitor not having done what they have been instructed to, causing unreasonable delay or failing to keep their client informed about what is going on.
The Service and Chief Executive are both steered by the Board for the Legal Complaints Service, chaired by Shamit Saggar.[8].
[edit] Further criticism and reform
Chief Executive Evans has been criticised as actively seeking-out complaints about solicitors and as showing an excess of zeal in making work for her organisation in a bid to attract more funding.[citation needed]
Complaints handling was further criticised in Sir David Clementi's 2004 report into regulation of legal services.[9]
When the Legal Services Act 2007 fully comes into force, the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner will be abolished and replaced with an Office for Legal Complaints which will supervise the complaints handling of solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (2005) p.5
- ^ Access to Justice Act 1999, ss.51-52/ Sch.3
- ^ Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (2006) p.6
- ^ a b Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (2007) p.7
- ^ "Text from letter dated 16 April 2007 from the Commissioner to the Law Society (2007-2008 Plan)" (PDF). Legal Services Complaints Commissioner. 2007. http://www.olscc.gov.uk/docs/laws-letter-0407.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-07.[dead link]
- ^ Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (2008) p.13
- ^ "Law Society fined as a result of complaints plan" (PDF). Office of theLegal Services Complaints Commissioner. 2008-06-03. http://www.olscc.gov.uk/docs/penalty08-09pressnotice.pdf. Retrieved 2008-08-09.[dead link]
- ^ "Our board". Legal Complaints Service. http://www.legalcomplaints.org.uk/about-us/our-board.page. Retrieved 2008-03-08.[dead link]
- ^ Clementi, D. C. (December 2004). "Report of the Review of the Regulatory Framework for Legal Services in England and Wales". Ministry of Justice. http://www.legal-services-review.org.uk/content/report/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
- ^ Legal Services Act 2007, ss.114-159/ Sch.15
[edit] Bibliography
- Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (2005). "Annual Report 2004-2005" (PDF). Law in Order: your right to expect better. London: The Stationery Office. http://www.olscc.gov.uk/docs/OLSCCannualreport2004-2005.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-07. ""HC 166""[dead link]
- — (2006). "Annual Report 2005-2006" (PDF). Actions not words: consumers matter. London: The Stationery Office. http://www.olscc.gov.uk/docs/olscc-annrep-1.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-07. ""HC 1225""[dead link]
- — (2007). "Annual Report 2006-2007" (PDF). Cycle of change. London: The Stationery Office. http://www.olscc.gov.uk/docs/annual-report-06-07-full.pdf. Retrieved 2008-03-07. ""HC 676""[dead link]
- — (2008). "Annual Report 2007-2008". A work in progress. London: The Stationery Office. http://www.olscc.gov.uk/publications/annual-interim-reports.htm#work. Retrieved 2008-08-09. ""HC 840""[dead link]
[edit] External links
- Legal Complaints Service "Legal Service Complaints Service". http://www.legalcomplaints.org.uk/home.page Legal Complaints Service. Retrieved 2008-03-08.[dead link]
- "Office of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner". http://www.olscc.gov.uk/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
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