The
Chief Executive of the Law Society reported on the progress
so far of the reform of the complaints handling process
at the Law Society and introduced further proposed changes
for the regulation of the profession.
The
Law Society are considering 'naming and shaming' serial
poorly performing solicitors who have been disciplined through
the society's procedures. One issue being discussed at the
society's council in the autumn is how to make the information
of a solicitor's misconduct or performance restrictions
available to the public. The Chief Executive is in favour
of the public being able to access this information via
the new general helpline that has been set up (0870 606
6575). Other
suggestions that have been made include a grading system,
based on assessments of the practice or individuals, that
would allow potential clients to decide which practice to
use for particular issues, for example, buying a house.
The
aim of the reforms is to encourage public awareness of the
role of the Law Society, increase access to information
on the performance of solicitors and also what they should
expect from their solicitor. The complementary aim to increased
public awareness is the development of a more substantial
support system for struggling solicitors. The Law Society
will introduce a team of inspectors who will investigate
practices that have received three or more complaints. A
program of development would be set which would support
the imrpovement of the group or individual practice. Any
practices not improving could face closure and any poorly
performing individual could lose their licence.
Tthe
Legal Services Ombudsman reported in June on the high incidences
of customer dissatisfaction with the law society's handling
of complaints. The Law Society has responded by reporting
the interim results of its pilot scheme of the new complaint-handling
procedure.
