At Chamber of Ahmad Barrister, we are committed to providing a high standard of service. However, if you have a complaint, we encourage you to raise it as soon as possible. Below is our procedure for handling complaints effectively and fairly.
You can submit your complaint via:
Telephone – Call us at +4402012345678
Email or in Writing – Send details of your complaint to [email protected]
We treat all complaints as confidential but may discuss them with other barristers or the Bar Standards Board as part of their monitoring process. Your name will not be disclosed unless an independent investigator or mediator is appointed.
The Legal Ombudsman, the independent complaints body for service complaints against lawyers, has specific time limits:
The act or omission must have occurred after 5 October 2010.
Complaints must be referred to the Legal Ombudsman within:
Six years from the act/omission, or
Three years from when you reasonably became aware of the issue.
Complaints must be submitted to the Legal Ombudsman within six months of receiving our final written response.
If your complaint falls outside these time limits, we may not be able to investigate it. However, in exceptional circumstances, the Legal Ombudsman may extend the timeframe.
The Legal Ombudsman only deals with complaints from clients. If you are not a client, you should contact the Bar Standards Board.
Your complaint may be resolved through:
Telephone discussion
Written correspondence
A formal meeting
Independent investigation (by a barrister from another chambers)
If an independent investigator is needed, we will mutually agree on an appointment. The chosen individual will have relevant experience in the subject matter.
Once we receive your complaint:
Acknowledgment – We will respond within 48 hours to confirm receipt.
Investigation – A thorough review will be conducted, and we will respond within 14 days. If more time is required, we will inform you.
Final Response – Our response will include:
A summary of our investigation.
Our conclusion on each complaint point.
Any corrective actions, if applicable.
If you are not satisfied with our response and are eligible, you may escalate your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman.
The following individuals and entities are eligible to file complaints with the Legal Ombudsman:
Individuals
Micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees and turnover/assets below €2 million)
Charities with an annual income of less than £1 million
Clubs, associations, and small organisations (annual income under £1 million)
Trustees of trusts with assets under £1 million
Personal representatives or beneficiaries of estates (if the deceased had not filed a complaint before passing)
If you need to escalate your complaint, you can contact the Legal Ombudsman:
Postal Address: PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton WV1 9WJ
Phone: 0300 555 0333
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk
If you remain dissatisfied, you may consider alternative dispute resolution (ADR) through:
ProMediate – https://www.promediate.co.uk
Small Claims Mediation Service – www.gov.uk
Mediation must be requested within six months, and neither party is obligated to accept the resolution. If mediation is unsuccessful, you may still approach the Legal Ombudsman within the appropriate time limits.
If you are not a client and wish to raise concerns, contact the Bar Standards Board:
Address: 289-293 High Holborn, London WC1V 7JZ
Phone: 0207 6111 444
Website: www.barstandardsboard.org.uk
We may not always be able to investigate complaints from non-clients. If your complaint falls outside our jurisdiction, we will refer you to the Bar Standards Board.
Your complaint will remain confidential, except when disclosure is necessary for resolution or regulatory compliance.
We will retain complaint records for six years and review them annually to improve our services.
This complaint procedure ensures transparency and efficiency in addressing concerns. If you have any questions, please reach out to us.