The Legal Ombudsman published its latest Annual Report on 29
January 2015. It reports that it resolved 8,055 cases in the year
2013-2014. Of these, 13% related to Wills and Probate – the
third largest category after Residential Conveyancing and Family.
The percentage remains unchanged from 2012-2013.
At present, the Legal Ombudsman is only able to deal with
complaints about regulated legal providers, such as solicitors,
barristers or chartered legal executives. The Report comments on a
case study where an unregulated will-drafting firm provided an
inadequate service to a client, including losing a family heirloom.
The client was unable to receive compensation as no ombudsman
scheme is in place.
The Report highlights the Legal Ombudsman's commitment to
develop a single professional services ombudsman. Frustratingly it
says nothing about the limitation on assistance to the third sector
- charities with an annual income of a £1 million (see link) are excluded from redress through the
Ombudsman.
The Report can be found here.
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