Complaints made after 1 October 2008
Conduct Complaints
From 1 October 2008, the new Scottish Legal Complaints Commission acts as a gateway for all complaints. It also decides whether complaints are about a service provided by a solicitor or a solicitor's conduct. Conduct issues relate to a solicitor's behaviour and can include breaches of professional rules.
All conduct complaints are referred to the Society for investigation, whether they relate to a period before of after 1 October 2008. After 1 October, the Society has the new power to make a finding of unsatisfactory conduct on issues which fall short of professional misconduct.
Service Complaints
The Commission deals with all service complaints relating to business instructed after 1 October 2008. Service issues include poor communication, avoidable delay, failing to follow instructions and failing to advise about rising fees/outlays. The Commission can be contacted on 0131 528 5111 or see the leaflet The Society's Complaints Process (where work started before 1 October 2008) for information about making service complaints that relate to business instructed before 1 October.
