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Complaints Policy

What If I Have A Complaint?

Every professional client and every lay client is entitled to make a complaint about the service provided by a barrister. If you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance please contact the Head of Chambers in writing. Acknowledgement of receipt of your complaint will be sent within two working days.

 

A lay client may make a complaint either through his solicitors or, if he wishes, directly without going through his solicitors.

 

The Head of Chambers will try to resolve your complaint as soon as possible and in any event within 28 days of its receipt. If a response takes longer than 28 days they will write to you explaining why and saying when they expect to be able to deal with the matter. In any event they will try and resolve your complaint within 56 days of its receipt at the very latest.

 

If we fail to deal with your complaint to your satisfaction you may then refer your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman.

 

The Legal Ombudsman asks that you go to him as soon as you can; and in any event you must contact him with your complaint within 6 months of the date of our written response. There are circumstances where the Legal Ombudsman can receive complaints up to six years from the act/omission complained of, or three years from when the complainant should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint. He can be contacted in the following ways:-

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The Legal Ombudsman will assess your complaint and either deal with it himself or, if in his view it involves possible issues of professional misconduct, he will refer it to the Bar Standards Board to deal with. If he does refer it to the Bar Standards Board, both he and the Bar Standards Board will contact you to confirm this. (“Professional misconduct” is when a barrister has breached the Code of Conduct for barristers, for instance by misleading the court or by acting dishonestly. You can find out more about the Code of Conduct on the website www.barstandardsboard.org.uk).

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If you wish to complain about a barrister who is not working for you or who has not worked for you, you should contact the Bar Standards Board directly within 12 months of the problem occurring, either by telephone or via their website

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

Helpline number: 0303 123 1113

ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk

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