Legal Services Ombudsman

In England and Wales, the Legal Services Ombudsman was a statutory officer that investigated allegations about the improper, ineffective or inefficient way that complaints about lawyers are handled by their respective self-regulating professional bodies. The Ombudsman is appointed by, and is answerable to, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.^[1] It has been abolished under the Legal Services Act 2007

The first Ombudsman was appointed to start work on 2 January 1991. During the first decade of operation, the office undertook 10,531 investigations:

• 9,456 complaints about solicitors;
• 1,036 complaints about barristers; and
• 39 complaints about licensed conveyancers.

Around 60% of the firms of solicitors in England and Wales and around 8% of practising barristers were subject of a complaint to the Ombudsman in that time.^[2]

Powers[]

The Ombudsman could:^[3]

• Recommend that the professional body re-investigate a complaint;
• Order the re-investigation;
• Formally criticise the professional body;
• Award compensation for distress or inconvenience.

There was also a power to re-investigate the original complaint but this is only used in exceptional circumstances.

Reform[]

With the passing of The Legal Services Act 2007 the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman was abolished. It has been replaced by the Office for Legal Complaints.^[4] This body goes by the public name Legal Ombudsman.

References[]

External links[]

• "Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman". Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2008-03-08.