Complaints Handling Procedure

As a firm of solicitors, our work is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We are committed to providing a high-quality legal service to all our clients. 

We hope that you will be pleased with the work that we do for your. However, if there us any aspect of our service with which you are unsatisfied then please at the first instance contact the solicitor dealing with your matter. If you still have any concerns then please contact the practice manager, Hilary Corfield at 2 The Avenue, Sneyd Park, Bristol, BS9 1PA (0117 9688890 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). In order to follow correct procedure the practice has a complaints handling policy in place. 

 

What will happen next?

1. We will send you a letter acknowledging receipt of your complaint within three days of receiving it, enclosing a copy of this procedure.

2. We will then investigate your complaint. This will normally involve passing your complaint to our practice manager who will review your matter file and speak to the member of staff who acted for you.

3. Hilary will then invite you to a meeting to discuss and hopefully resolve your complaint. She will do this within 14 days of sending you the acknowledgement letter.

4. Within three days of the meeting, Hilary will write to you to confirm what took place and any solutions she has agreed with you.

5. If you do not want a meeting or it is not possible, Hilary will send you a detailed written reply to your complaint, including her suggestions for resolving the matter, within 21 days of sending you the acknowledgement letter. 

6. At this stage, if you are still not satisfied, you should contact us again and we will arrange for the acting solicitor to review his own decision or provide an appropriate alternative such as review by another local solicitor or mediation to review the decision.

7. We will write to you within 14 days of receiving your request for a review, confirming our final position on your complaint and explaining our reasons.

 

What do to if we cannot resolve your complaint

The Legal Ombudsman can help you if we are unable to resolve your complaint ourselves. They will look at your complaint independently and it will not affect how we handle your case.

Before accepting a complaint for investigation, the Legal Ombudsman will check that you have tried to resolve your complaint with us first. If you have, then you must take your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman:

  • Within six months of receiving a final response to your complaint

and

  • No more than six years from the date of act/omission; or
  • No more than three years from when you should reasonably have known there was cause for complaint.

If you would like more information about the Legal Ombudsman, please contact them using the details below:

Visit: www.legalombudsman.org.uk

Call: 0300 555 0333 between 9am to 5pm.

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Legal Ombudsman PO Box 6167, Slough, SL1 0EH

 

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) can help you if you are concerned about a solicitor’s behaviour. This could be for things like dishonesty, taking or losing your money or treating you unfairly because of your age, a disability or other characteristic. For more details of how the SRA can assist, please visit their website.

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