Complaints

Raise it with chambers first

The quickest route is to tell his PA, in writing, what has gone wrong and what you would like done about it. Most complaints are about something that can be put right once somebody knows about it.

You will be acknowledged in writing and told who is dealing with it.

If that does not resolve it

Chambers has a written complaints procedure and will send it to you on request. It sets out who investigates, what the timescales are, and what happens at each stage.

The Legal Ombudsman

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may be able to take the complaint to the Legal Ombudsman, which is independent and free to use. A complaint normally has to go through chambers first, and you should allow chambers eight weeks to respond before going to the Ombudsman.

There are time limits. The Ombudsman expects a complaint within six months of chambers’ final response, and within one year of the act complained of or of when you should reasonably have known there was cause to complain.

• Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6167, Slough, SL1 0EH
• Telephone 0300 555 0333
• [email protected]
• legalombudsman.org.uk, where the decision data on complaints it has handled is also published

The Bar Standards Board

The Legal Ombudsman deals with service. The Bar Standards Board deals with professional misconduct, which is a different thing, and can be contacted directly about it.

• Bar Standards Board, 289–293 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7HZ
• Telephone 020 7611 1444
• barstandardsboard.org.uk

If you need to speak to somebody

His PA can be reached on 0161 706 0282, or you can write using the enquiry form.