Is it worth complaining to the SRA about a solicitor?

[jetster]

Hello
I'm considering complaining about a solicitor to the SRA. A LB member, having seem my correspondence with the solicitor, believes that I have solid reasons for a complaint. The solicitor in question is representing someone that I'm suing in the small claims court.
However, Trust Pilot reviews about the SRA (*all* of them negative!), suggest that the SRA is not an effective regulator and that I'm likely to be wasting my time. See https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.sra.org.uk.
Do these reviews chime with your experience and knowledge of the SRA? Is anyone aware of 'success stories' where he SRA has taken action against a solicitor or a firm?

[pt2537]

Hello
I'm considering complaining about a solicitor to the SRA. A LB member, having seem my correspondence with the solicitor, believes that I have solid reasons for a complaint.
However, Trust Pilot reviews about the SRA (*all* of them negative!), suggest that the SRA is not an effective regulator and that I'm likely to be wasting my time. See https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.sra.org.uk.
Do these reviews chime with your experience and knowledge of the SRA? Is anyone aware of 'success stories' where he SRA has taken action against a solicitor or a firm?

Id say if you were a client then you would be best placed using their complaints proceedure and going to the legal ombudsman, they refer complaints ot the SRa if they deem it necessary

[jetster]

Id say if you were a client then you would be best placed using their complaints proceedure and going to the legal ombudsman, they refer complaints ot the SRa if they deem it necessary

Hello PT2537, I've updated my original post to state that I'm not the client. The solicitor is representing the other side in my small claims case.

[pt2537]

Hello PT2537, I've updated my original post to state that I'm not the client. The solicitor is representing the other side in my small claims case.

oh i see, ok in that case its the SRA that would have to be sent the complaint, however idoubt you will get any thing out of them

[QCKate]

Hello
I'm considering complaining about a solicitor to the SRA. A LB member, having seem my correspondence with the solicitor, believes that I have solid reasons for a complaint. The solicitor in question is representing someone that I'm suing in the small claims court.
However, Trust Pilot reviews about the SRA (*all* of them negative!), suggest that the SRA is not an effective regulator and that I'm likely to be wasting my time. See https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/www.sra.org.uk.
Do these reviews chime with your experience and knowledge of the SRA? Is anyone aware of 'success stories' where he SRA has taken action against a solicitor or a firm?

your complaint would have to go through the Legal Ombudsman Service who would refer to the SRA if they considered it appropriate. Don't hold your breath that the Ombudsman process will be either quick or fair or efficient though.

[jetster]

your complaint would have to go through the Legal Ombudsman Service who would refer to the SRA if they considered it appropriate. Don't hold your breath that the Ombudsman process will be either quick or fair or efficient though.

Thanks. My expectation that anything would be quick and efficient in our legal system evaporated a long time ago I intend to fire off a complaint as soon as the case is concluded.

[pt2537]

Thanks. My expectation that anything would be quick and efficient in our legal system evaporated a long time ago I intend to fire off a complaint as soon as the case is concluded.

Did you ever get the debts sorted out?

[EXC]

Thanks. My expectation that anything would be quick and efficient in our legal system evaporated a long time ago I intend to fire off a complaint as soon as the case is concluded.

The SRA don't accept complaints about solicitors as such. Although you can report conduct issues to them they won't inform you of any action they may take.

The Legal Ombusman accept complaints about service issues with your own solicitor (but only if you complain to the solicitor first) but usually not about a solicitor that isn't yours.

[jetster]

The SRA don't accept complaints about solicitors as such. Although you can report conduct issues to them they won't inform you of any action they may take.

The Legal Ombusman accept complaints about service issues with your own solicitor (but only if you complain to the solicitor first) but usually not about a solicitor that isn't yours.

Thanks. Yes, it is their conduct which I intend to complain about. I don't expect the other side's solicitor to assist me or to make things easy for me, but as Jo public I do expect them to adhere to certain professional standards. I believe that I have sufficient examples of where they have breached the SRA standards - and this will be the basis of my complaint.
There are mixed opinions here on how worthwhile this will be and I'm erring very much on the side of pessimism. I'll be sure to let you know I I get on....as soon as Uxbridge County Court actually get around to hearing my case!

[QCKate]

Thanks. Yes, it is their conduct which I intend to complain about. I don't expect the other side's solicitor to assist me or to make things easy for me, but as Jo public I do expect them to adhere to certain professional standards. I believe that I have sufficient examples of where they have breached the SRA standards - and this will be the basis of my complaint.
There are mixed opinions here on how worthwhile this will be and I'm erring very much on the side of pessimism. I'll be sure to let you know I I get on....as soon as Uxbridge County Court actually get around to hearing my case!

You'll still need to do this through the Ombudsman, I'm afraid.

[dinkydonk]

The SRA don't accept complaints about solicitors as such. Although you can report conduct issues to them they won't inform you of any action they may take.

The Legal Ombusman accept complaints about service issues with your own solicitor (but only if you complain to the solicitor first) but usually not about a solicitor that isn't yours.

I once reported a solicitor for advertising as a company that was liquidated 7 years previously. They took action and told me what action they had taken.

[pt2537]

I once reported a solicitor for advertising as a company that was liquidated 7 years previously. They took action and told me what action they had taken.

Then the SRA have broken their own rules if that is true.