Legal Services Ombudsman
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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.Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, ss.21-26/ Sch.3 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.{{ cite web | title=Annual Report 2000-2001: Reflecting Progress | url=http://www.olso.org/publications/AnnualReports/files/AR2001-english.pdf | publisher=Legal Services Ombudsman | year=2001 | accessdate=2008-03-08 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704122530/http://www.olso.org/publications/AnnualReports/files/AR2001-english.pdf | archivedate=2007-07-04 }}
Powers
The Ombudsman could:Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, s.23
- 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 It has been replaced by the Office for Legal Complaints.Legal Services Act 2007, ss.114-159/ Sch.15 This body goes by the public name Legal Ombudsman.
References
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External links
- {{cite web | title=Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman | accessdate=2008-03-08 | url=http://www.olso.org/default.asp | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307021633/http://www.olso.org/default.asp | archivedate=2008-03-07 }}
Category:1991 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:2007 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Consumer protection in the United Kingdom
Category:Government agencies established in 1991