Complaing about a solicitor

hicker

Does any body know what the procedure is when you want to complain about a solicitor,when you are the third party ?
I presume there is an official route?e.g asking for their complaints process or a solicitor ombudsman?HELP! very confused.!

far2812

What do you mean you are the third party? There are different routes of complaints for which party you are. Briefly give us an outline!

The Law Society website refers you to the legal complaints service here

www.legalcomplaints.org.uk

hicker

very briefly .......We have been in a boundary dispute for some time,eventually that was sorted,we then wanted to build a supporting wall up to the boundary,next door complained,they were advised by a solicitor we were not allowed to put footings under their land,we then went through the party wall act which has taken over a year as their solicitor has made it very difficult.We employed a surveyor to complete this,he has said at no point should a solicitor be needed as this is a legal document which does not need a solicitor.
i would like to complain about this solicitor as i feel he has given the wrong information to his client,which they now think they can give us his bill !

dmg24

hicker wrote: »

very briefly .......We have been in a boundary dispute for some time,eventually that was sorted,we then wanted to build a supporting wall up to the boundary,next door complained,they were advised by a solicitor we were not allowed to put footings under their land,we then went through the party wall act which has taken over a year as their solicitor has made it very difficult.We employed a surveyor to complete this,he has said at no point should a solicitor be needed as this is a legal document which does not need a solicitor.
i would like to complain about this solicitor as i feel he has given the wrong information to his client,which they now think they can give us his bill !

A solicitor acts in the best interests of their client, they are not there to make it easy for the other side!

If the client wishes to complain they may do so, but you have no association with the sol, and as such I cannot see your complaint being entertained.

toffe

hicker wrote: »

very briefly .......We have been in a boundary dispute for some time,eventually that was sorted,we then wanted to build a supporting wall up to the boundary,next door complained,they were advised by a solicitor we were not allowed to put footings under their land,we then went through the party wall act which has taken over a year as their solicitor has made it very difficult.We employed a surveyor to complete this,he has said at no point should a solicitor be needed as this is a legal document which does not need a solicitor.
i would like to complain about this solicitor as i feel he has given the wrong information to his client,which they now think they can give us his bill !

if your neighbour has employed a solicitor to a job he could have done himself, and he was wrong in his objection as you suggest, how is he planning to make you pay his solicitors costs beyond asking nicely and you telling him to take a running jump?

I don't follow i'm afraid.

far2812

Your complaint wouldn't stand up to anything.

The only reasons complaining about the other side's solicitor - is if you feel they have been discriminative to you - ie ageist, sexist, racist, etc etc

Why do they seem to think that you will pay their bill?

Hintza

hicker wrote: »

he has said at no point should a solicitor be needed as this is a legal document which does not need a solicitor.

That seems a cotradiction in terms.

If it is a legal document then they probably should employ a solicitor. Even if it isn't a legal document amyone can employ a solicitor for whatever reason and if you are found liable for any costs by a court you could very well have to pay for their solicitor.

It also sounds as if there is history between you and your neighbour so it sounds quite astute of them to employ a solicitor early on.

So why are you so worried about their solicitor are you having to pay the bill?

Interestingly we will have a boundary dispute soon and if I am proved correct I will be looking for all legal fees and all surveyor fees.

terryw

The Solicitor's Code of Conduct is at :
http://www.sra.org.uk/rules/

It might be worth your while to have a look through this in case any rules have been breached.

balloo_2

A friend of mine bought a house with a nice single floor extension and a garage solicitor did the search and everything went through swimmingly except when my friend applied for a grant and the council man came out and wanted to know whats the garage and extension no planning for it it will have to come down. He explained he bought the house like that they let him keep the extension but he had to demolish the garage. Now he tryed to sue the solicitor couldn't find one that would do it when he did he dropped the case saying that it was going to majistrates court, crown court, Barristers he couldn't afford it. sorry to highjack this thread but my point is finding a solicitor to take another solicitor on

terryw

balloo wrote: »

A friend of mine bought a house with a nice single floor extension and a garage solicitor did the search and everything went through swimmingly except when my friend applied for a grant and the council man came out and wanted to know whats the garage and extension no planning for it it will have to come down. He explained he bought the house like that they let him keep the extension but he had to demolish the garage. Now he tryed to sue the solicitor couldn't find one that would do it when he did he dropped the case saying that it was going to majistrates court, crown court, Barristers he couldn't afford it. sorry to highjack this thread but my point is finding a solicitor to take another solicitor on

This may have been true years ago but certainly not now! This is a whole growth area for solicitors. Try google. Here is the first one that I found:
http://www.beenletdown.co.uk/

isplumm

hicker wrote: »

very briefly .......We have been in a boundary dispute for some time,eventually that was sorted,we then wanted to build a supporting wall up to the boundary,next door complained,they were advised by a solicitor we were not allowed to put footings under their land,we then went through the party wall act which has taken over a year as their solicitor has made it very difficult.We employed a surveyor to complete this,he has said at no point should a solicitor be needed as this is a legal document which does not need a solicitor.
i would like to complain about this solicitor as i feel he has given the wrong information to his client,which they now think they can give us his bill !

Hi,

I am not sure I understand this - are you saying that you are being asked to pay for your neighbours solicitor costs via the party wall agreement & are not happy about this?

My understanding is that in a party wall agreement, the other party is entitled to use a solicitor & you have to pay for it.

Mark