Open and independent
Press and media enquiries
Enquiries from the press and media are handled by our Policy and Communications team. Please contact Andrew Walton on 07881 415 696 or email us at press@legalombudsman.org.ukOut of office hours: Please contact Alison Robinson on 07741 035 967
News
21 February 2012Permission to proceed. Read Adam Sampson's thoughts on plans to bring claims management companies under our jurisdiction here.
20 February 2012
Head of Policy and Communications, Alison Robinson, recently talked to Heather Stott on BBC Manchester. Listen on iPlayer here. The interview starts two hours and four mins in (opens in new window).
17 February 2012
Legal Ombudsman scanning partner apologises over confusion caused by address change. Read more here.
31 January 2012
We have published our response to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills' consultation on Alternative Dispute Resolution. You can read it here.
31 January 2012
We'd like to welcome two new members to our board. You can find out about the new appointments here.
31 January 2012
Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson recently talked to Tony Fisher on BBC Hereford and Worcester. Listen on iPlayer here. The interview starts one hour in. (opens in new window).
26 January 2012
Wondering what the implications of ABSs might be on complaint handling? Read our latest complaints clinic column in the Law Gazette here. (website opens in new window).
18 January 2012
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, talks to local solicitors at the Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Local Law Society about recent work at the Legal Ombudsman and to share ideas about how to prevent complaints.
6 January 2012
Adam Sampson, our Chief Ombudsman, posts his latest blog about our journey to publishing Ombudsman decisions. Read it here.
19 December 2011
What happens to consumers when a lawyer changes regulator? Read Adam's latest blog to find out.
7 December 2011
Being good at resolving complaints is an effective way for law firms to manage risk. Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson speaks about this today at the 8th Annual Risk Management For Law Firms conference.
1 December 2011
Want to put our policy about publishing Ombudsman decisions in some context? Read our latest complaints clinic column in the Law Gazette here. (website opens in new window).
14 November 2011
The High Court has fined a solicitor £5,000 and £15,550 costs for failing to cooperate with a Legal Ombudsman investigation in the first case of its kind. Read our latest press release about it here. (pdf opens in new window)
14 November 2011
Consumers are confused about how to access redress for some legal services. Read the independent research that came to this conclusion here.
10 November 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman speaks to local lawyers at the Annual Conference of the Devon & Somerset Law Society about the role and approach of the Ombudsman and to share trends from complaints. The Chair of our Board Elizabeth France gives a similar presentation to solicitors from Staffordshire Local Law Society in the evening.
7 November 2011
It is right to publish the names of lawyers in some specific circumstances. Read more about the decision of the Board of the Legal Ombudsman following our extensive consultation on publishing our decisions here (pdf opens in new window). You can also read the full consultation response here.
5 November 2011
A small team from the Legal Ombudsman attend the annual Bar Conference to raise awareness of the Ombudsman scheme and to talk to barristers about the role and approach of the Ombudsman.
4 November 2011
What sorts of issues do we see around probate and estate administration? Read our response to the Legal Services Board's call for evidence on probate and estate administration here.
4 November 2011
What sort of protections should consumers of legal services such as will-writing have? Read our response to the Legal Services Board's consultation on enhancing consumer protection and regulatory boundaries here.
27 October 2011
Read our latest complaints clinic column in the Law Gazette here (website opens in new window). In it we talk through some of the key factors we needed to consider in our strategy and business plan and how what solicitors do can impact on the effectiveness of our service.
20 October 2011
We have published our draft Strategy 2012-2015 and Business Plan 2012-2013 for consultation. We are keen to hear ideas to help us get our planning right. You can find out more here.
18 October 2011
Our Deputy Chief Ombudsman, Gary Garland, speaks at the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers business conference about good complaint handling and the role of the Ombudsman in the changing legal landscape.
17 October 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, speaks to policymakers, lawyers and consumer groups at the Legal Futures Conference about the role of the Ombudsman as part of the debate about new ways to practise law.
7 October 2011
The Chair of our Board, Elizabeth France CBE, has been re-appointed for another term. It's a good endorsement of our set-up and first year of operation. You can read more here (pdf opens in a new window).
6 October 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, and Ombudsman, Susie Uppal, take part in The Risk and Compliance Service's second annual conference hosted by the Law Society to talk about how having good complaints handling practices can help lawyers manage risk and take part in the debate about Alternative Business Structures.
29 September 2011
Read our latest complaints clinic column in the Law Gazette here (website opens in new window). In it we highlight issues around enforcement and cooperation with the Ombudsman.
28 September 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, talks to local solicitors at the Birmingham Law Society about what consumers want in the provision of legal services.
23 September 2011
Deputy Chief Ombudsman, Gary Garland, talks at the Notaries Conference in London about how to prevent and how to handle complaints.
14 and 15 September 2011
A small team from the Legal Ombudsman attend the Citizens Advice Annual Conference 2011 to raise awareness of the Legal Ombudsman and to learn about current issues and developments in consumer advice and policy.
12 September 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, talks to local solicitors at the Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Local Law Society about the Legal Ombudsman and to share ideas about how to prevent complaints.
1 September 2011
Ombudsman, Silas Catling, talks to local lawyers from the Cambridge Law Society about the role of the Legal Ombudsman, our approach, and to share lessons about how to prevent complaints.
16 August 2011
Read our latest press release about enforcement action we've taken against a firm of solicitors who failed to comply with an Ombudsman decision.
28 July 2011
Adam Sampson, our Chief Ombudsman, writes in the Law Society Gazette about naming lawyers who are the subject of complaints.
25 July 2011
We welcome the publication of a joint note outlining the role of claims management companies (CMCs) by the FSCS, Financial Service Authority (FSA), Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
The note (pdf opens in new window) is designed to assist consumers, financial businesses and CMCs to understand the role CMCs play in the complaints process.
19 July 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, writes about the changing face of legal services in today's Guardian. Click here (website opens in new window) to read his article.
19 July 2011
Monday 18 July saw us launch our annual report. Here are links to the news coverage we received.
BBC News
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14180643 (link opens in new window).
Money Saving Expert
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/protect/2011/07/thousands-ripped-off-by-unregulated-will-writing-companies (link opens in new window).
Legal Futures
http://www.legalfutures.co.uk/blog/escaping-from-the-regulatory-maze (link opens in new window).
Sunday Sun
http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2011/07/18/will-writers-rip-off-thousands-84229-29072782/ (link opens in new window).
Channel 4 news
http://www.channel4.com/news/thousands-ripped-off-by-will-writers (link opens in new window).
Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/jul/18/unregulated-will-writers-rip-off-thousands (link opens in new window).
Sky news
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Legal-Ombudsman-Urges-Action-Against-Unregulated-Firms-Which-Rip-Off Thousands (link opens in new window).
Which?
http://www.which.co.uk/news/2011/07/which-backs-legal-ombudsman-bid-to-widen-remit--258988/#content (link opens in new window).
19 July 2011
We've posted a tender document on our website for a research project to explore the implications of the changing legal landscape on consumers. Click here to read more.
18 July 2011
Today sees us launch our annual report. Click here to view case studies from the report or view the report itself.
14 July 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, speaks to lawyers, judges and mediators at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum about the role of the Ombudsman as the alternative to the courts.
11 July 2011
Read our response to the Law Commission's consultation on consumer redress for misleading and aggressive practices.
4 July 2011
Read our response to the Legal Services Board's consultation on schedule 12 rules.
30 June 2011
Read our monthly complaints column in the Law Gazette. This month we look at the importance of in-house complaint handling by lawyers.
30 June 2011
Read our response to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal's consultation on the making of procedural rules in relation to appeals to the tribunal.
29 June 2011
One of our Ombudsmen, Susie Uppal, is interviewed on BBC Hereford and Worcester, explaining how we can help listeners with complaints about legal services.
27 June 2011
Read our response to the Legal Services Board's discussion paper on developing regulatory standards.
22 June 2011
Read our response to the Association of Costs Lawyers and Costs Lawyers Standards Board consultation on the proposed new governance arrangements for their profession.
21 June 2011
Our media officer, Neil Spencer, features on BBC Radio Merseyside to help listeners understand our work and how we look into complaints about legal services.
21 June to 23 June 2011
A small team from the Legal Ombudsman attend the Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards Conference and Exhibition 2011 to raise awareness of the Legal Ombudsman and to learn about current issues and developments in consumer affairs.
8 June 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, speaks to lawyers and practice managers at the Complaints Negligence and Risk Management Conference to describe the approach of the Legal Ombudsman and feedback what we're learning from complaints.
26 May 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, attends the thirteenth Law Management Section Conference in London to talk to practice managers and solicitors about 'What the consumer wants', and to share our learning from complaints.
18 May 2011
Our Head of Policy and Communications, Alison Robinson, speaks to Stuart George on BBC Radio Stoke to tell listeners in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire about the Legal Ombudsman and how we can help resolve complaints about lawyers.
16 May 2011
The Legal Ombudsman launches a guide for MPs and councillors so they can help consumers who come to them with a legal complaint.
13 May 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, speaks at a gathering of presidents and secretaries of local law societies to update them on the work of the Ombudsman, and share the lessons we are learning from complaints.
12-13 May 2011
A small team from the Legal Ombudsman attend the biannual conference of the British and Irish Ombudsman Association to learn about current good practice and developments in the Ombudsman world.
9 May 2011
We've published our response to reforms to the regulation of insolvency practitioners.Click here to read.
6 and 7 May 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, is attending the Solicitors' Sole Pracitioners Group Annual Conference in Harrogate, to talk about the Legal Ombudsman and sharing what we are learning from complaints.
5 May 2011
Our Chief Ombudsman, Adam Sampson, talks to Manx advocates who also practise as English and Welsh lawyers, to explain the role of the Legal Ombudsman and how we are working with the Isle of Man Law Society to clarify how our jurisdictions fit together.