Complaints

We are committed to ensuring that the service we provide meets each client's expectations, and is to the standard that they are entitled to.

If you feel that you have cause for concern, then in the first instance please speak to Kelly on 07988 187020

Procedure

If you with to make a complaint, please let us know as soon as possible. A formal complaint must be made as soon as reasonably possible, and not later than 12 months from the event being complained about. Please make your complaint in writing by email to kelly@square17chambers.com, and please include all of the following details:

• Whether your complaint is about the barrister or clerk;
• Date of complaint;
• Case name;
• Court, conference, or other service that you instructed us for;
• Details of complaint;
• What outcome you desire.

Your complaint will be acknowledged within two working days, and we always aim to provide a substantive response within 28 days. At times of national holiday when we are away from the office for longer periods, or times that are especially busy, or if your complaint is particularly complicated requiring that we need to seek clarification from you to any part of it, that response time may be extended, but if that happens we will keep you updated with the expected date of our response.

Confidentiality

All conversations and documents relating to your complaint will be regarded as confidential. The person you have complained about will need to be shown those documents in order to require a response, and depending on what your complaint is, we may be under a duty to send it to the Bar Standards Board, which, irrespective of that, is in all cases entitled to inspect the documents and seek information about the complaint when performing its auditing and monitoring functions.

Record Keeping

We are required by the Bar Standards Board to retain all documents and correspondence generated by a complaint for a period of 6 years.

Legal Ombudsman

The nature of Square 17 being a sole practice means that if your complaint is about the barrister, it will be that barrister who responds to you. However. if you are unhappy with the response then you have the right to take your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman, which is an independent organisation that is available to all those who have used the professional service of a regulated lawyer.

The Ombudsman can be contacted at:

Complaints Team, Legal Ombudsman, PO Box 6167, Slough, SL1 0EH
Telephone: 0300 555 0333
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk

Bar Standards Board

If your complaint is about a barrister who did not represent you, then you cannot use the Legal Ombudsman, but are entitled to contact the Bar Standards Board:

Address: Bar Standards Board, 289-293 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HZ
Telephone: 020 7611 1444

The BSB Barristers’ Register lists barristers who hold a current Practising Certificate and also details whether or not each barrister has any disciplinary findings against him/her.

Damian Warburton's entry is here.