You can contact the firm and ask for the name of the client relations manager or contact the Society's Public Communications team at. You also have the right to complain to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission about how we handled your complaint. Following a change in the law in 2008 the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission has been the single gateway for all complaints about legal practitioners in Scotland. All complaints should be made to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) on 0131 201 2130 as they are the gateway for all complaints against solicitors in Scotland. We will also indicate the likely timescales involved in responding fully to your feedback where it has not been possible to do so within the original ten working days and keep you informed with progress. If you're unhappy with the Law Society's decision, you can appeal to the Scottish Solicitors' Discipline Tribunal. Any individual with concerns over the conduct of a Council or committee member is encouraged to raise their concerns with the member concerned and seek to resolve any disagreement or issues informally. The. We cannot receive complaints directly. Complaints of this nature require to be submitted to the. You can find updates and additional information about the Law Society’s response to COVID-19 here. As in every organisation and despite our best efforts, things sometimes can and do go wrong. All complaints start at the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC). The individual or panel investigating the complaint shall be expected to conduct the investigation fairly and must ensure that both the complainant and the Council or committee member have been given sufficient opportunity to input into the process. No, neither the Law Society nor the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission make any charge for investigating complaints against solicitors. Sole practitioners must operate a different system and a possible solution is for a sole practitioner to agree to "swap" such problems with another sole practitioner although it is understood this may not be acceptable. It's possible to complain about the actions of a solicitor who does not act for you. If the complaint is against the president or if the nature of the complaint makes it inappropriate for the president to consider an appeal then the role of the president shall be undertaken by the immediate past president. Once the investigation is complete, a report shall be prepared by the individual or panel carrying out the investigation. Yes, you can make a complaint about a firm which is no longer trading or a solicitor who is no longer practising. If an individual remains unhappy, they can make a formal complaint to the Society and this policy sets out the process which we will use for dealing with such complaints. They will then speak to the person or persons within the firm handling the transaction and will carefully read the file in order to gain an up to date understanding of the particular situation. There will ordinarily be strict time limits for doing so. It may be that a second or reserve client relations partner could step in if the problem relates to the client relations partner. will deal with each part of the complaint accordingly – the SLCC will investigate the service part, and the Law Society will investigate the conduct part. If either party refuses the offer of mediation, or if this process does not resolve the complaint, then the process shall continue as detailed below. You can contact the SSDT by post at: Our searchable database includes a selection of past decisions of our Professional Conduct Sub Committees in relation to conduct complaints made against Scottish solicitors which fall within this category. This means we are required to pay a levy to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission annually to cover the costs of considering such matters – including whether or not such complaints are eligible for investigation. If the report concludes there has been a breach of the code of conduct then the report shall be provided to the complainant and the Council or committee member. Our policy is to respond to all enquiries promptly and courteously. The Society helps to shape the law for the benefit of both the public and the profession. Practice management and leadership training, Coronavirus response: resources and support, Guide to setting up an in-house legal department, Checking and changing your Smartcard PIN and PUK, Frequently asked questions about the Smartcard, Calendar of mental health campaigns and events, How to ensure a smooth handover to and from your cover, How to ask for and make the most of Keep in Touch (KIT) days, How to pitch for flexible working (and make it work for you and your team), How to set yourself up for a great return, How to ensure a strong first 90 days back in the saddle, How to draw boundaries between work and home, How to get on the right people's radar and get ahead when you're back, How to signal the desire for, and get on, the partner track, How to make a positive start to combining fatherhood and career, Best practice for managing maternity leave for line managers, Before your colleague goes on maternity/adoption leave, Wellbeing during the coronavirus outbreak, Online webinars and modules to support your wellbeing, Information for trainees and practice unit, Guidance for non Scottish-domiciled students, Brexit: implications for in-house lawyers, Brexit paper: The future impact of Brexit, Covert Intelligence Human Resources (Criminal Resources) Bill, Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill, Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill, European Charter of Local Self Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, European Union (Future Relationship) Bill, Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill, Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Bill, United Kingdom Internal Market Bill 2019-2021, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Bill, Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Bill, Corporate Insolvency and Governance Bill 2019-21, Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill 2019-21, Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill, Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Bill, Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment)(Scotland) Bill, Extradition (Provisional Arrest) Bill 2019-2021, Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Bill, Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill, Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill, Liability for NHS Charges (Treatment of Industrial Disease) (Scotland) Bill, Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill 2019-21, Post-mortem Examinations (Defence Time Limit) (Scotland) Bill, Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill 2019-21, Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill, Social Security Administration and Tribunal Membership (Scotland) Bill, UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill, UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill, Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill, Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill, Human Tissue (Authorisation) (Scotland) Bill, Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19, Restricted Roads (20 mph Speed Limit) (Scotland) Bill, Scottish Elections (Franchise and Registration) Bill, Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill, Children and Young People (Information Sharing) (Scotland) Bill, Civil Litigation (Expenses and Group Proceedings) (Scotland) Bill, Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill 2017-19, Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Bill, Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Bill, Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Bill, Historical Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) (Scotland) Bill, Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Relief from Additional Amount) (Scotland) Bill, Offensive Behaviour at Football & Threatening Communications (Repeal) (Scotland) Bill, Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill 2017-19, Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill 2017-19, UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill, Guide to preventing bullying and harassment. Where can I find reports about solicitors who have been subject to disciplinary proceedings? The chief executive shall review the complaint with the convener of the Society’s Audit Committee (the audit convener) and both will collectively decide whether the complaint is of a sufficiently seriousness nature as to merit investigation. If the Crown Counsel or Procurator Fiscal is an enrolled solicitor, then complaints may be raised against them with the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC). If a Council or committee member has been found to be in breach of the code of conduct, the individual or panel investigating the breach will make a recommendation as to what action, if any, should be taken against the Council member concerned. This includes an overarching aim to treat people fairly and with respect. 1 minute read Solicitors must follow the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) ... All solicitors have a process for handling complaints. What happens here? If the complaint is against the audit convener then the role of the audit convener shall be undertaken by the president. The Law Society of Scotland is following advice from the UK and Scottish Governments and from the NHS to make sure we protect the people who use our services, the wider population and our staff, for these reasons our office is now closed. If the problem is not resolved with the client relations manager, you may submit a formal complaint to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC), which is the gateway for all complaints against solicitors in Scotland. The educational, representative and regulatory body of the solicitors' profession. If you wish to complain about the personal conduct of a Sheriff or a Judge either inside or outside of the court, you should write to: or by e-mail to judicialofficeforscotland@scotcourts.gov.uk. If you're unhappy with how the Law Society handled your complaint – such as delays or not taking evidence into account – you can complain to the SLCC. Such complaints can be made in writing to: The Law Society of ScotlandAtria One, 144 Morrison St, EdinburghEH3 8EXEmail: lornajack@lawscot.org.uk. We have plans in place to try and minimise the disruption this causes to our operation, but as staff are working from home all communication in relation to ongoing complaints being investigated by the Law Society will be by email during the period of the closure. Letters and emails will be answered as soon as possible, but the Complaints and Client Relations Section cannot give you legal advice, second opinions or arrange legal representation. A draft copy of the report will be made available to the complainant and the Council or committee member at the earliest possible opportunity with a request for suggested corrections to any factual inaccuracies within five working days. If either the complainant or the Council or committee member have reason to believe that the investigation process is not following due process then this should be raised in writing, with reasons given, to the chief executive. The SLCC decides if a complaint relates to the service provided or the conduct of a solicitor and whether the SLCC or the Society or both should investigate the matter. 3.7 Having considered the additional documentation received from Mr Karus’ representative on 9 February 2012, it is accepted that the Law Society of Scotland’s complaint has been made more than 12 months after conviction. in the same way as all other solicitor complaints. If it relates to a solicitor’s conduct it will be investigated by us. Introduction [1] On 29 March 2010 the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal found the petitioner guilty of professional misconduct and made an order censuring him and finding him liable for the expenses of the proceedings before it. Similarly, we like to know when we provide a good service or where a member of staff has been of particular help. Our target is to complete our investigation within around 12 months from the date on which the complaint is referred to us by the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission. You can also use the textphone service, so if you have hearing or speech problems we can talk with you using this service.