Written By Jack J Collins, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

Reintroduce free cases, says Law Society

Written By Jack J Collins, Editor, AllAboutLaw.co.uk

The Law Society earlier this week called for the Legal Ombudsman to consider returning to the system it used to employ, where the first two complaints it investigates for a firm were not charged.

In April 2013, the Ombudsman abolished the ‘two free cases’ rule that it had employed, and instead decided that practitioners should pay a flat £400 per case across the board.

But, in a response to the Ombudsman’s budget proposals for the forthcoming financial year, the Law Society has pleaded for the reintroduction of the two free cases, and for consideration to be given for exemptions for pro bono work.

Furthermore, the Society has claimed that the Ombudsman needs to consider whether the level of case fees should really be forming some of the review on its rules for schemes.

The Society said: “We recognise there is a balance between maintaining the quality of decision-making and cost reduction, and we welcome the chair’s commitment to ensuring both. We would like to see the LeO look at ways it could cut costs, for instance by settling complaints at an earlier stage.”

The Ombudsman’s news that it will reduce spending by half a million next year has been welcomed by the Law Society, but it has said that its spending (which will still be £11.7m), is still far too high compared to similar schemes, and needs to be reduced.

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