Complaints Committees are administered and maintained by both the Bar and the Law Society, and are constituted of a majority of lay people, with a lay person in the Chair.
In the majority of cases, a complaint made against a lawyer will be dealt with in-house in order to attempt a speedy and satisfactory resolution. For solicitors, this means the complaints being considered by the firm’s in-house process first. For barristers, it means the complaint being dealt with by the body set up by the Bar to assist with early resolution of complaints.
Should this step not prove successful, or be deemed unsatisfactory by the complainant, the complaint will, providing it meets the statutory criteria, be eligible for formal consideration by the relevant Complaints Committee. This Committee has enhanced powers and is able to consider a broader range of cases. Appeals to the High Court will be available against determinations of the Complaints Committee in specified cases.