“The Legal Ombudsman (‘LeO’) publishes brief summaries of its decisions on its website. Where awards have been made against lawyers to date the amounts have usually been very modest: hundreds rather than thousands of pounds. There has not been much for lawyers or their insurers to worry about. But things could be about to change.”
Full story (PDF)
4 New Square, 21st March 2013
Source: www.4newsquare.com
“Some solicitors are failing to advise divorcees to settle courtroom battles before costs rise out of control because of the ‘emotional rawness’ of those involved, according to the legal ombudsman.”
The Guardian, 28th February 2013
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Innovation in family law services is working for consumers but could in time lead to mis-selling and hidden costs as complex financing and legal services structures emerge, the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has warned.”
Legal Futures, 28th February 2013
Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk
“LSB responds to OFT report which outlines the changes to the regulation of legal services brought about by the Legal Services Act 2007.”
Legal Services Board, 18th January 2013
Source: www.legalservicesboard.org.uk
“This consultation invites views on the fees for applications for authorisation and annual fees for the regulation year 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014 and initial views on a fees framework for complaints handling by the Legal Ombudsman.
This consultation is primarily aimed at persons authorised to provide regulated claims management services in England & Wales under the Compensation Act 2006 and those businesses and individuals contemplating making an application for authorisation.”
Ministry of Justice, 9th November 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Research shows that clients are reluctant to complain to lawyers when things go wrong and that the Legal Ombudsman needs to be clearer in its message.”
The Guardian, 17th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“Clients of law firms are scared to complain when things go wrong and are confused about the complaints system.”
The Guardian, 15th October 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The Legal Ombudsman has today published an online list of complaints relating to 770 law firms across England and Wales.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 17th September 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Third parties should be able to complain about lawyers to the Legal Ombudsman, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has suggested.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 7th June 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“The Legal Ombudsman is planning a 66% rise – to £50,000 – in the maximum amount of compensation it can force lawyers to pay clients who receive poor service.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 26th March 2012
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“For too long, lawyers have got away with arcane pricing and billing practices. Those who don’t change their ways will pay for it.”
The Guardian, 6th March 2012
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The High Court will impose fines and prison sentences on lawyers who fail to comply with the orders of the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), it has been warned.”
The Lawyer, 15th November 2011
Source: www.thelawyer.com
“The Legal Ombudsman has taken the highly controversial decision to name lawyers and law firms in circumstances where there is a ‘pattern of complaints’ against them or when it is in the ‘public interest’ to do so.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 7th November 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Independent body fielding complaints against lawyers has come in under budget, and with a positive reaction from the profession.”
The Guardian, 7th October 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“To paraphrase Mark Twain, reports of the death of the sole practitioner appear greatly exaggerated.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 12th May 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Changes in regulation to emphasise outcomes that solicitors need to deliver for clients, rather than how they achieve them.”
The Guardian, 7th April 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The legal ombudsman has warned that consumers will need to take even greater care checking the regulatory status of firms offering legal services when the legal world experiences its equivalent of the big bang this autumn.”
The Guardian, 6th April 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
“The independence of the legal profession is being threatened by government ‘diktats’ ordering that the websites of three legal quangos be closed, the chair of the Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP) told a House of Lords debate this week.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 10th March 2011
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
“Complaints are the legal profession’s achilles heel. It was the Law Society’s failure to deal properly with complaints against solicitors in the late 1990s that helped trigger the reform process that led to the Legal Services Act 2007 – and a key element of the act is the new, independent Legal Ombudsman (LEO) service.”
The Guardian, 24th January 2011
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
