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Complaints Handler: Ms Linda Appiah 

Email: enquiries@vinecourtchambers.co.uk 

Telephone: 020 3489 8769 

 

Outline

Chambers takes all complaints seriously and complies with the BSB Handbook and Code Guidance. We continue to improve our client service through feedback sought from a number of clients, so take such feedback seriously. We seek to maintain a good working relationship with all clients, so we will do all we can to find a solution in each situation. 
 

We do accept there may be times when a client may be dissatisfied with how their case has been dealt with either by a Member of Chambers or our administrative processes or staff. 

 

Procedure

Where you wish to raise a complaint in relation to one of our barristers, you are encouraged to contact the barrister who has conduct of your case to discuss how best to resolve any issues. The individual barrister is expected to consider and respond to your complaint at the time, if it is oral. If it is in writing, then the complaint will be responded to within 10 working days.
 

In the event you remain dissatisfied with how your complaint is dealt with, please email our Complaints Handler as above and set out the details of your complaint in as much detail as possible. It is important you do this so that all issues can be dealt with and delays avoided.
 

If you wish to raise a complaint about an administrative issue or a staff member of chambers, then you should raise your complaint in writing to the Complaints Handler. 
 

You will receive an initial response from the Complaints Handler within 3 working days of your complaint. Following this, a substantive response will be provided a further 10 working days later.

If you remain dissatisfied with the primary complaint or the complaints procedure, you are welcome to refer your complaint to The Legal Ombudsman who can provide further guidance at https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk  Such a complaint should be made within 6 months of the final decision from Chambers. The Legal Ombudsman deals with complaints from consumers of our service. Data on complaints is to be found at https://www.legalombudsman.org.uk/information-centre/data-centre/ombudsman-decision-data/ This link changes from time to time. If it does not work, please go to the Legal Ombudsman website homepage above in the search engine insert “decision data”. 

 

If your complaint does not fit within our criteria, for example, where you are not a client or consumer of our service, we may not always be able to deal with your complaint within the time limits set out above. You may wish to seek further information from the Bar Standards Board as chambers and barristers regulator at https://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk 
 

There may be occasions where your complaint is deal with by Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund (BMIF) who may take over conduct of a complaint on behalf of the barrister involved. If the BMIF wishes to take over conduct of the matter, all documents are sent to it. The barrister involved or Complaints Handler will inform you immediately of this action and your complaint will be handled by the BMIF from that point.

Other Alternatives

 

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the investigation, an alternative complaints body such as Pro Mediate exist. Their website https://www.promediate.co.uk may provide further information, should you and the barrister both wish to use such a scheme. If you wish to use Pro Mediate please contact us to discuss this. You are encouraged to check their website to consider any relevant time limits involved.

 

Chambers Aim

Chambers deals with all complaints in accordance with our Equality and Diversity policy. Should you wish to receive a copy of said policy, you can request a copy at any time.
 

It is our aim to deal with all complaints fairly. We maintain confidentiality of your complaint, save where the barrister involved / member of staff / Complaints Handler have to discuss the complaint. You can and should expect to have your complaint dealt with promptly and with the aim to reach a satisfactory outcome. 
 

All complaints are retained for 6 years and are reviewed by chambers on occasion with the aim of improving our service. Such reviews are carried out on an anonymised basis.