THE Financial Services Ombudsman will attempt to take over the handling of complaints about lawyers. In a move that will be opposed by the legal profession, Walter Merricks. the Ombudsman, argues that the proposed new Office for Legal Complaints (OLC) could be run by his own office.
The Financial Services Ombudsman service is widely regarded as successful in handling complaints in the financial sector. In about one third of the complaints, the consumer’s grievance is upheld in whole or in part. It operates a fast-track service, with 90 per cent of complaints settled without recourse to the Ombudsman’s powers to make binding decisions. Of those who “lost” their complaint, two thirds were satisfied with the handling of the complaint.
The move — to be outlined today to a commitee of MPs and peers who are scrutinising the Legal Services Bill — will be fiercely opposed by the Law Society. Solicitors are fighting to maintain independence of the profession under the Bill and they argue that such a takeover, bringing lawyers under the auspices of the financial services industry, could threaten that independence.
Kevin Martin, president of the Law Society, said: “The OLC must be completely independent and report to the Legal Services Board.”