Complaints

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If you have a complaint about one of our barristers, then you should try to resolve it by following our Chambers complaints procedure by contacting our clerks in the first instance at 0330 111 2874 or by email at clerks@contractlawchambers.co.uk. Information on how to do this has also been provided to you in your client care letter.

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To see our complaints procedure please click here.

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If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your complaint or if your complaint has not been dealt with in eight weeks, then you can contact the Legal Ombudsman. The Legal Ombudsman is an independent organisation. It deals with complaints about the service provided by all types of lawyers in England and Wales. The Legal Ombudsman can decide whether or not the service you received from your barrister was satisfactory, and can:

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1. Award compensation for poor service;

2. Consider whether the fees charged/paid should be reduced; and

3. Decide whether you should receive an apology.

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Any complaint to the Legal Ombudsman should be made within 6 months of receiving the final response to your complaint from your barrister or their chambers (as long as the response tells you about your right to complain to the Ombudsman and the six month time limit). A complaint to the Legal Ombudsman must also not be made more than 6 years after the problem arising, and not more than 3 years after you become aware of the problem.

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The Legal Ombudsman will review your complaint and decide whether there are any concerns about professional misconduct (professional misconduct is when a barrister has not kept to the BSB Handbook, and so disciplinary action might need to be taken). If your complaint raises concerns about professional misconduct, the Legal Ombudsman will refer those concerns to the BSB for consideration. If the Legal Ombudsman needs to make a referral, you do not need to do anything. The Legal Ombudsman will let you know if they have made a referral and the BSB will also contact you to confirm this.

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The Legal Ombudsman can give you more detailed information on how to make a complaint.

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You can contact the Legal Ombudsman:

 

By phone: 0300 555 0333

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By email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk 

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Through their website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk 

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By post: PO Box 6806, Wolverhampton, WV1 9WJ

 

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Decided Cases

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The decision data page on the Legal Ombudsman website can be found at: 

 

https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/raising-standards/data-and-decisions/#ombudsman-decision-data

 

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The Barrister’s Register 

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The Bar Standard’s Board’s (BSB) Barristers’ Register shows (1) who has a current practising certificate, and (2) whether a barrister has any disciplinary findings, which are published on the Barristers’ Register in accordance with BSB policy. The Barristers’ Register page also links to the BSB’s Entities’ Register. The BSB’s Entities’ Register shows which entities are currently authorised by the BSB. You can check the Barrister’s Register for complaints.

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The Barrister’s Register can be found at:

 

https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/for-the-public/search-a-barristers-record/the-barristers-register.html

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Alternatively, you can contact the Bar Standards Board on 020 7611 1444 to ask about this (or e-mail ContactUs@BarStandardsBoard.org.uk).

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Equality and Diversity

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We are committed to equal opportunities in all aspects of our work.

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We support and promote equal opportunity and treatment for all, regardless of sex, marital status, race, religious belief, nationality, ethnic or national origins, disability, age or sexual orientation. We are also committed to non-discrimination when accepting work, carrying out that work and in all dealings with clients, colleagues, staff, and others.

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In accordance with disability discrimination legislation, we will fully consider any request for a reasonable adjustment.

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See our Equality and Diversity Policy here.

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In December 2020, our Diversity Data Officer conducted a survey of diversity among our barristers and staff. You can read the results here. 

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Privacy Policy

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Your privacy and data is important to us. To see our Privacy Policy, please click here.

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Fact Sheet

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All of this information is also available in a Fact Sheet in writing or audio format upon request by telephoning Chambers on 0330 111 2874 or by email at clerks@contractlawchambers.co.uk.

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