- Latest available (Revised)
- Original (As enacted)
This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).
(1)This section and section 166 provide for a scheme under which legal services complaints may be resolved quickly and with minimum formality by an independent person.
(2)The OLC may make rules (“voluntary scheme rules”) establishing such a scheme (“the voluntary scheme”), but only in relation to such kinds of legal services complaints as may be specified by order made by the Lord Chancellor for the purposes of this section.
(3)An order under subsection (2) may in particular specify a kind of legal services complaint by reference to the description of the complainant, of the respondent, or of the legal services to which the complaint relates.
(4)“Legal services complaint” means a complaint which relates to an act or omission of an eligible person (“the respondent”) in the course of that person providing legal services.
(5)For that purpose a person is eligible if at the time the act or omission took place there was no activity in relation to which the person—
(a)was an authorised person, or
(b)is to be regarded as having been such a person by virtue of section 129.
(6)Under the voluntary scheme—
(a)redress may be provided to the complainant, but
(b)no disciplinary action may be taken against the respondent.
(7)Voluntary scheme rules may confer functions on ombudsmen for the purposes of the voluntary scheme.
(8)Section 131 applies for the purposes of the voluntary scheme as it applies for the purposes of the ombudsman scheme.
(9)Sections 155 and 156 apply in relation to voluntary scheme rules as they apply in relation to scheme rules.
(10)In this section—
“legal services” means services provided by a person which consist of or include legal activities carried on by, or on behalf of, that person;
“the voluntary scheme” and “voluntary scheme rules” have the meaning given by subsection (2).
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Text created by the government department responsible for the subject matter of the Act to explain what the Act sets out to achieve and to make the Act accessible to readers who are not legally qualified. Explanatory Notes were introduced in 1999 and accompany all Public Acts except Appropriation, Consolidated Fund, Finance and Consolidation Acts.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: