Law Society warns of impact from Legal Ombudsman fee hikes

The Law Society has expressed “serious concerns” regarding proposed fee increases for the Legal Ombudsman. Following a 12-week consultation period on changes to the Office for Legal Complaints’s (OLC) Scheme Rules, proposals suggest raising case fees from £400 to £600, with additional costs of £750 for investigations and £1,500 for ombudsman decisions.

Law Society president Mark Evans warned that the reforms could undermine confidence in the complaints process and restrict access to justice. He noted that smaller practices and legal aid providers might be disproportionately affected. Evans also cautioned that higher costs could incentivize firms to settle complaints regardless of merit to avoid the financial burden of a legitimate defense, potentially distorting the purpose of the complaints system.