If you have a complaint

The Legal Ombudsman is an independent Ombudsman scheme that is being set up to resolve disputes between the legal profession and its clients, fairly and effectively with minimum formality. We will open our doors in the second half of 2010.

Until then, if you have an enquiry or a complaint about your lawyer you will need to contact the current complaints handling bodies or the Approved Regulator for your lawyer.

With the Legal Services Board as the oversight regulator, these bodies regulate lawyers practising in England and Wales.

Solicitors

Law Society

Solicitors Regulation Authority (independent regulatory body of the Law Society)

Legal Complaints Service (independent complaints handling body for the Law Society)

Barristers

Bar Council

Bar Standards Board (independent regulatory arm of the Bar Council)

Legal Executives

Institute of Legal Executives

ILEX Professional Standards Board (independent regulatory arm of the Institute of Legal Executives)

Licensed Conveyancers

Council for Licensed Conveyancers (regulatory body for Licensed Conveyancers)