Complaints Procedure

My aim is to provide the best possible service at all times. However, if you do have a complaint about any of the services provided by me to you then please contact me as soon as possible.

I will consider all complaints as quickly and fairly as possible. However, I will only consider complaints that are raised within six months of the issue complained of unless there are exceptional reasons as to why that period of time should be extended.

You can contact me by telephone, email or by letter and the relevant contact details are given on the Contact page of this web site.

As a sole practitioner I do not have any colleagues in chambers who I can refer your complaint to but I will be willing to consult with colleagues from other sets of chambers to obtain alternative views as to the merits of the complaint received.

Please provide the following details in any written complaint made:-

1. Your contact details.

2. The date(s) of the events relating to the complaint made.

3. The reasons for the complaint.

4. How you consider the complaint may be resolved.

5. How you wish to be communicated with.

My intention will be to acknowledge any written complaints within 5 business days and I will endeavour to provide a written response within a further 21 working days. However, if that timeframe is not achievable then I will advise you accordingly and provide an indication of when I will be able to respond to you. In all cases I will respond within 8 weeks of the complaint being received by me.

If you do not wish to raise your complaint with me directly or have done so and are not happy with the response then you may refer your complaint to the Legal Ombudsmen . However, that complaint must be made within 6 years of the actions/failure to act complained of and by no later than 3 years after you should reasonably have known there were grounds to complain.

Any complaint you make to the Legal Ombudsmen must be made within 6 months of receiving my final response to your complaint.

The normal position is that the Legal Ombudsman will expect a client to have made a complaint to the relevant chambers before he will investigate a complaint further. Nevertheless, as I am a sole practitioner the Legal Ombudsman may be prepared to consider a complaint to him initially. However, it would be sensible to raise any complaint with me first as it may be possible to resolve any issues between ourselves.

The Legal Ombudsman’s contact details are:-

Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6806,
Wolverhampton,
WV1 9WJ

Telephone number: 0300 555 0333
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk

The Bar Standards Board investigates complaints of professional misconduct or professional disciplinary issues.

You can write to the Bar Standards Board at:

Complaints Department
Bar Standards Board,
289-293 High Holborn,
London
WC1V 7HZ
DX: 240 LDE

Tel: 020 7611 1444
Website:  https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/