Peter Smith J case: the first test of judging the judges – The Lawyer

Posted July 25th, 2007 in complaints, judges, news by sally

“The referral of Mr Justice Peter Smith to the Office of Judicial Complaints (OJC) over his conduct has led to the inevitable question: what is going to happen now?”

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The Lawyer, 23rd July 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Watchdog received more than 300 complaints about judges – The Times

Posted July 17th, 2007 in complaints, judges, news by sally

“More than 200 complaints were lodged in the past year arising from the conduct of judges, according to the annual report of a judicial watchdog.”

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The Times, 17th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Law Soc warned about complaints conduct – The Lawyer

Posted July 10th, 2007 in complaints, Law Society, news, solicitors by michael

“The Legal Services Complaints Commissioner Zahida Manzoor today (10 July) raised concerns that the Law Society was not handling complaints in line with its own policies.”

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The Lawyer, 10th July 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

Behrens “pulls no punches” in independent review – Bar Council

Posted July 4th, 2007 in barristers, complaints, news by sally

“The Complaints Commissioner, Rob Behrens, has published his independent review of the Bar’s Complaints system. The report, which has been welcomed by the Chairman of the Bar, makes 52 recommendations for improvements to the system. The report concludes that the Bar’s system for handling complaints is good, but also finds that it is far from being ‘state of the art’ and needs significant changes to modernise its practices.”

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Bar Council press release, 3rd July 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Review calls for overhaul of bar complaints system – The Lawyer

Posted July 4th, 2007 in barristers, complaints, news by sally

“A wide-ranging review of the bar’s complaints-handling process has called for the implementation of 52 recommendations in a bid to address significant weaknesses in the current system.”

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The Lawyer, 3rd July 2007

Source: www.thelawyer.com

The enforcers – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2007 in complaints, police, special report by sally

“The Independent Police Complaints Commission deals with the fall-out from such controversial incidents as the Menezes shooting in London. Jonathan Rayner meets the head of its legal team.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st June 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Profession hits back at complaints verdict – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted June 22nd, 2007 in complaints, news, solicitors by sally

“The leaders of the solicitors’ profession hit back at the Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO) this week after she branded the Legal Complaints Service’s (LCS) performance as ‘still well short of where a modern, customer-focused organisation should be’.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 21st June 2007

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Bar Council defends its record on complaints handling – Bar Council

Posted June 21st, 2007 in barristers, complaints, press releases by sally

“In a hard-hitting briefing sent to key MPs this week, the Bar Council has defended its record on complaints handling.  As the Legal Services Bill moves through Committee Stage, the Government is proposing a ‘one size fits all’ approach to complaints handling, reversing amendments introduced in the House of Lords. But the vast majority of complaints are against solicitors – and the overwhelming majority of criticisms about complaints handling are directed against the Law Society rather than the Bar’s independent regulator, the Bar Standards Board (BSB), which has consistently provided an efficient and effective service, according to the independent Legal Services Ombudsman.”

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Bar Council press release, 21st June 2007

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Lords backs Bar Council on latest Bill amendments – Legal Week

Posted May 9th, 2007 in complaints, legal profession, legal services, news by sally

“The Bar Council has scored another victory in the House of Lords after peers yesterday (8 May) voted in favour of two further amendments to the Legal Services Bill.”

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Legal Week, 9th May 2007

Source: www.legalweek.com

Law Society’s complaints handling plan declared adequate – Government News Network

Posted April 17th, 2007 in complaints, news, solicitors by sally

“The Legal Services Complaints Commissioner, Zahida Manzoor CBE, has today declared the Law Society’s complaints handling Plan for the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 as adequate.”

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Department for Constitutional Affairs press release, 17th April 2007

Source: www.gnn.gov.uk

Legal complaints scheme ‘will lead to higher fees’ – The Times

Posted April 16th, 2007 in complaints, legal profession, news by sally

The cost of seeing a lawyer is expected to rise with the disclosure that estimates for setting up a new legal complaints scheme have soared to nearly £50 million.

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The Times, 16th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk