“Named and shamed” barrister hits back at “misleading” ombudsman – Legal Futures

Posted December 12th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, disciplinary procedures, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The first lawyer to be “named and shamed” by the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) for a series of complaints has argued that he is only “trying to adapt to new market forces”.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 12th December 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Public access barrister named as ‘a risk’ to clients – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted December 9th, 2014 in barristers, complaints, disciplinary procedures, disclosure, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The Legal Ombudsman has taken the unprecedented step of naming a lawyer who has been subject to 25 complaints in the past two years.’

Full story

Law Society’s Gazette, 9th December 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Litigation funding options: The importance of a comprehensive checklist – Hardwicke Chambers

Posted November 27th, 2014 in appeals, compensation, costs, law firms, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The judgment of Mr Justice Hickinbottom in Clarke v McDaniel & Co (15 October 2014, unreported) provided a salutary reminder to litigation solicitors of the need to ensure that in their initial discussion with a potential client they advise and explore with the client other sources of funding litigation.’

Full story

Hardwicke Chambers, 17th November 2014

Source: www.hardwicke.co.uk

Legal Ombudsman outlines test for dealing with complaints about MDPs – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has introduced a policy for dealing with complaints about organisations which provide non-legal as well as legal services, such as some alternative business structures (ABSs) and, shortly, accountants who offer probate advice.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 19th September 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Law careers from restorative justice, to legal ombudsman, to media – OUP Blog

‘What range of career options are out there for those attending law school? In this series of podcasts, Martin Partington talks to influential figures in the law about topics ranging from restorative justice to legal journalism.’

Full story

OUP Blog, 19th August 2014

Source: www.blog.oup.com

‘Failure to cooperate’ case prompts ombudsman review – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) is to review its internal investigations guidance after a barrister was cleared of misconduct due to its own “failure to cooperate” with the disciplinary process.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 19th August 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Barrister cleared of misconduct because of ombudsman’s “failure to co-operate” – Legal Futures

‘The Bar Disciplinary Tribunal has told the Legal Ombudsman that “co-operation is a two-way process”, in a case involving a failure to share information with the lawyer who was the subject of a complaint.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 19th August 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Rise in rogue lawyers pocketing stamp duty payments – Daily Telegraph

Posted May 9th, 2014 in complaints, fees, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors, stamp duty by sally

‘The Legal Ombudsman has seen a spike in complaints about sloppy legal work around house purchases.’

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 8th May 2014

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Legal Ombudsman and complaints about claims management companies – consultation on the fees framework – Ministry of Justice

Posted May 8th, 2014 in claims management, complaints, consultations, fees, legal ombudsman by tracey

‘In August 2012 the Government announced its intention for customers’ complaints about poor service provided by authorised claims management companies to be dealt with by the Legal Ombudsman. The Legal Ombudsman will provide a new avenue of redress for clients of claims management companies and will assist the Claims Management Regulator in driving out poor standards and practices in the market.

This paper sets out for consultation proposals as to how the costs the Legal Ombudsman will incur in dealing with complaints about authorised claims management companies may be recovered from the authorised claims management industry.’

Full consultation

Ministry of Justice, 7th May 2014

Source: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

High Court overturns “unlawful” Legal Ombudsman decision to cut firm’s fees – Legal Futures

Posted April 22nd, 2014 in appeals, compensation, fees, law firms, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The High Court has struck down an “unlawful and irrational” Legal Ombudsman (LeO) decision to reduce a law firm’s fee and compensate its client for distress and inconvenience.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 22nd April 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

High Court backs Legal Ombudsman over barrister complaint – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted March 11th, 2014 in appeals, barristers, compensation, complaints, legal ombudsman, news by tracey

‘The High Court has upheld a Legal Ombudsman decision that a barrister dealt with a complaint improperly – even though the original complaint was dismissed.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 10th March 2014

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

High Court throws out Legal Ombudsman ruling, branding it ‘irrational’ – The Lawyer

Posted February 13th, 2014 in appeals, barristers, complaints, fees, legal ombudsman, news by sally

‘The High Court has slammed the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) over its decision to order a barrister to reimburse fees to a client, branding the LeO ruling “irrational”.’

Full story

The Lawyer, 12th February 2014

Source: www.thelawyer.com

High Court quashes “irrational” LeO decision against barrister but upholds record SDT fine – Legal Futures

‘A High Court judge has overturned a Legal Ombudsman (LeO) decision that a barrister had not earned his fee, but separately upheld a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) decision to hand out a record fine.’

Full story

Legal Futures, 7th February 2014

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

First judgment in a judicial review of the Legal Ombudsman – 4 New Square

Posted January 7th, 2014 in fees, judicial review, jurisdiction, legal ombudsman, news, time limits by sally

‘On 20 December 2013 judgment was handed down in the first judicial review of a decision of the Legal Ombudsman (“LeO”) to reach a substantive hearing. The judgment will be of interest to lawyers and complainants wishing to challenge unappealable decisions of LeO. It is particularly (though not only) relevant to LeO decisions which direct a reduction in fees. This is an area which, in view of the absence of a limit on the amount by which LeO can reduce fees, has caused particular controversy.’

Full story

4 New Square, 3rd January 2014

Source: www.4newsquare.com

The Legal Ombudsman: more than a paper tiger – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted January 6th, 2014 in complaints, fees, judicial review, jurisdiction, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors by sally

‘Does the Legal Ombudsman have teeth? That was, in effect, the question before the High Court in Layard Horsfall, a judicial review brought by a former solicitor against a decision by the Ombudsman to reduce his fees following a complaint by one of his clients. The Court’s answer was a very clear yes. Where the Ombudsman has made her decision properly, taking relevant factors into account, it is likely to withstand judicial review challenge.’

Full story

UK Human Rights Blog, 3rd January 2014

Source: www.ukhumanrightsblog.com

Lawyers forced to pay out £1m in no win, no fee disputes – The Guardian

Posted January 6th, 2014 in compensation, complaints, costs, fees, legal aid, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors by sally

‘Lawyers were ordered to pay almost £1m in compensation to disappointed clients last year owing to failures in no win, no fee agreements, according to figures released by the legal ombudsman.’

Full story

The Guardian, 6th January 2014

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Solicitors and consumers split over widening ombudsman’s remit to unregulated providers – Legal Futures

Posted October 3rd, 2013 in dispute resolution, Law Society, legal ombudsman, legal profession, news by sally

“Solicitors and consumer representatives have come out on opposite sides of the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) proposal to extend its remit to the estimated 130,000 unregulated legal services providers operating in England and Wales.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 2nd October 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal Ombudsman to work on allowing complaints from non-clients – Legal Futures

Posted September 24th, 2013 in complaints, legal ombudsman, news, third parties by sally

“The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) is to begin work on what types of complaints it should accept from non-clients amid reports of lawyers harassing third parties over alleged debts, violating their privacy and doling out abusive treatment in court.”

Full story

Legal Futures, 24th September 2013

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Solicitor who ignored LeO fined for contempt – Solicitors Journal

Posted August 15th, 2013 in case management, contempt of court, fines, legal ombudsman, news, solicitors by sally

“A solicitor who refused to comply with a legal ombudsman decision to return files to a client has been fined £5,000 for contempt by a county court.”

Full story

Solicitors Journal, 14th August 2013

Source: www.solicitorsjournal.com

Legal advice on divorce prompts most legal complaints – BBC News

Posted June 13th, 2013 in complaints, divorce, legal ombudsman, news, reports by sally

“Divorce cases have prompted the most complaints about lawyers in the last year with individuals being urged to shop around for legal advice.”

Full story

BBC News, 13th June 2013

Source: www.bbc.co.uk