Recording | Clients and Complaints

Introduction

The practice of law is an occupation, a vocation, a business and a profession. At the centre of the solicitor’s work is a client. Clients come in all shapes and sizes, all forms and types. Some are good, but some are not so good and it is an area of the work life of the solicitor which is often given little attention or consideration. This webinar seeks to look at the many types of clients solicitors represent and how to deal with them. The webinar will also look at complaints, why solicitors get them, whether they are fair and how to deal with them.

The Solicitors Guide to Professional Conduct (4^th ed.) has a chapter dedicated to the solicitor and client relationship. The Legal Services Regulatory Authority also has guidelines and reports in relation to client complaints which are regulated under the Legal services Regulation Act 2015. This webinar will go through the Solicitors Guide to Professional Conduct and offer a practitioner’s perspective on dealing with clients and complaints.

Learning Outcomes

Attendees will learn about:

• The Solicitor’s Guide to Professional Conduct (4^th ed.)
• Assessment of proper Standard of legal services
• Good clients
• Bad clients
• Toxic clients
• Handling complaints
• Having a Dispute Resolution Procedure
• Dealing with a client lacking mental capacity
• Dealing with vulnerable clients
• Considering duress or undue influence
• The Legal Services Regulatory Authority
• Inadequate legal services, excessive costs and misconduct
• Time limits for complaints
• Misconduct by legal practitioners – Section 50 LSRA Act 2015
• Dealing with clients and complaints – a practitioner’s perspective and practical advice