We take every care to ensure clients receive the best possible service from St Pauls Chambers. In the rare event you feel we have not met with your expectations on service we encourage you to make us aware in order for us to address your concern.

Resolving your complaint

Formal Complaints are acknowledged by the Senior Clerk within 24 hours. Details of all complaints and significant feedback received are passed to the Head of Chambers for information and action where necessary. When required, the Head of Chambers will consider the best course of action after consultation with the Clerking Committee. In cases referred to the Head of Chambers for action, the resolution of the complaint will be undertaken directly between the Head of Chambers and the complainant. Copies of all correspondence will be held on file by the Senior Clerk as described below. It is not always necessary for the Head of Chambers to be part of the final response or to engage with the complainant. It is at the discretion of the Head of Chambers to determine his involvement in the complaint.

The St Pauls Chambers definition of a formal complaint is that it is:

‘an expression of dissatisfaction made to someone other than the Clerk or Barrister who was the subject of the complaint.’

This ‘someone’ will normally be the Senior Clerk, who is the individual nominated by Head of Chambers as being responsible for client care in the letter of acknowledgement. Should there be complaints against the Senior Clerk or instances deemed to be of a serious nature, they are directed to the Head of Chambers for action.

All members and staff have a responsibility to Chambers in bringing any significant negative client feedback (i.e. it falls outside the definition of a formal complaint above), to the attention of the Senior Clerk. The Senior Clerk will decide on any subsequent course of action.

Formal complaints and items of significant feedback are recorded using Chambers Complaint Form. The form is completed and actioned by the Senior Clerk in discussion with the complainant or from information contained in correspondence. A timetable will be set and a file will be opened.

At the conclusion of the complaints process, the complainant will be informed in writing of their right to complain to the Legal Ombudsman, the time frame for doing so and the full details of how to contact them.

All files will be kept for 6 years following the conclusion of the complaint.

Any complaint against the Head of Chambers will be immediately referred by the Senior Clerk to a meeting of the Management Committee for consideration and response. Should the Management Committee prove unable to resolve the complaint to the satisfaction of all parties, the matter will be referred to an ex Head of Chambers for conciliation and arbitration and the decision of this arbitrator shall be accepted as final.

The Senior Clerk will report annually to the appropriate committee on the number of complaints received, the subject areas of the complaints and the outcomes. The complaints are reviewed to identify possible training issues.

If we are unable to resolve your complaint

If the complaint cannot be resolved with this procedure, the complainant will be directed to the Legal Ombudsman. (LeO)

Clients can complain to the LeO if they are unhappy with the final response to their complaint, or if their complain has not been dealt with in eight weeks. Clients who have a right to complain to the LeO are individuals and, broadly speaking, small businesses and charities.

The full list of who has a right to complain to LeO is available on their website here.

Getting in touch with the Legal Ombudsman

You can write to the legal Ombudsman at:

Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6806
Wolverhampton
WV1 9WJ

Phone: +44 (0)300 555 0333

Email: [email protected]

More information about the Legal Ombudsman is available on their website.

The decision data on the LeO’s website shows providers that have received an ombudsman’s decision in the previous 12 months.  In each case, the data shows whether LeO required the provider to give the consumer a remedy.

Contact Us

Chambers is centrally located within walking distance of the train station, secure car parks and the Courts.

Contact Us

St Pauls Chambers
Park Row House
19-20 Park Row
Leeds
LS1 5JF

For out of hours assistance please call the senior clerk on 07854170429.

The switchboard will open from 08:30 until 17:30

Phone: +44 (0)1132 455 866
Email: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]

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