The SLCC at a glance
Every year we receive over a thousand complaints about legal practitioners in Scotland.
This could be a complaint about:
- A solicitor
- A firms of solicitors
- An advocate
- A commercial attorney
Normally we will only look at a complaint where the complaint has already been made to the lawyer, and they’ve had a chance to respond (there are some exceptions).
Our process is a mix of dispute resolution such as conciliation/mediation with formal, legally binding arbitration.
Let’s see what happened to the complaints made to us in our previous annual report year: 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020.
(Due to complaint timescales, not all of the complaints received in this annual report year have been concluded yet, so last year’s number give a more detailed picture).
So what happens to complaints made to the SLCC?
Let’s see what happened to the complaints made to us in our previous annual report year: 1 July 2019 – 30 June 2020.
(Due to complaint timescales, not all of the complaints received in this annual report year have been concluded yet, so last year’s number give a more detailed picture).
Outcome |
% of cases |
|---|---|
Closed as Premature(and not reopened) |
11% |
Conduct |
12% |
Resolved at Eligibility |
19% |
Rejected at Eligibility |
18% |
Discontinued/Withdrawn at Eligibility |
7% |
Service/Hybrid – closed at mediation |
5% |
Service/Hybrid – closed at investigation |
15% |
Service/Hybrid – closed at determination |
9% |
Ongoing |
3% |
What types of things do people make complaints to the SLCC about?
Here are the top five areas of law we received complaints about in our 2020-21 year:
Area of Law |
% of cases |
|---|---|
Residential Conveyancing |
26% |
Executries, Wills and Trusts |
19% |
Family Law |
17% |
Litigation |
15% |
Crime |
4% |
We resolve complaints throughout our process and make final binding decisions on service complaints at the end of our process.
- £218,826.28 compensation for inconvenience and distress;
- £98,111.14 compensation for financial loss;
- £36,860.78 in fee refunds and reductions and ;
- £49,168.22 in other settlements.
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