header-logo header-logo

Complaints-handling concerns raised

12 June 2025
Issue: 8121 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Regulatory , Legal services
printer mail-detail
The Legal Services Consumer Panel (LSCP), which advises the Legal Services Board on regulation, has reiterated its call for lawyers to be made to publish data on all complaints they receive

The LSCP described the current complaints-handling situation this week as a matter of ‘deep concern’. It initially urged publication of first-tier complaints a decade ago.

Last month, the Bar Standards Board proposed mandating barristers to report all first-tier complaints to their regulator, in its consultation, New arrangements and rules for first-tier complaints handling. In May 2024, the Legal Services Board published guidance last year advising that complaints be resolved within eight weeks where possible.

Tom Hayhoe, chair of the LSCP, said: ‘Consumers should not feel disillusioned or ignored when they raise complaints.

‘Recent scandals in the legal sector have highlighted how important complaints intelligence can be.’ The LSCP is also calling for standardised protocols so that consumers who complain receive ‘a fair and consistent experience’, and greater collaboration between regulators and service providers. 

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has secured £1.1m in its first use of an Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO)

County court cases are speeding up, with the median time from claim to hearing 62 weeks for fast, intermediate and multi-track claims—5.4 weeks faster than last year
back-to-top-scroll