Complaints

However, if you have a problem, we hope that you would feel able to talk to the individual(s) concerned directly and immediately, or able to contact the senior clerk Justin Wilson to discuss your problem. If you do wish to make a complaint you are free to do so in writing or via telephone to the Chief Executive and Director of Clerking, David Barnes. Chambers will investigate your complaint and reply to you within 28 days.

A copy of Atkin Chambers’ formal complaints procedure can be found here.

If you are unhappy with the outcome of Chambers’ investigation, you may take up your complaint with the Legal Ombudsman (LeO), the independent complaints body for complaints about lawyers. The LeO is not able to consider your complaint until it has first been investigated by Chambers.

You can write to the Ombudsman at:

Legal Ombudsman
PO Box 6167
Slough
SL1 0EH
Telephone: 0300 555 0333
Email: enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
Website: https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/

Please note that the LeO has a time limit for investigating complaints. You must complain to the LeO either no later than one year from the date of your barrister’s actions/failure to act, or no later than one year after you should reasonably have known there were grounds to complain. You must also complain to the Legal Ombudsman within six months of receiving your barrister’s final response to your complaint.

The Legal Ombudsman publishes data on all complaints that have been resolved by an ombudsman’s final decision. To view the decision data, please click here.