Complaints against Solicitors

If you wish to make a complaint about a solicitor, you may write giving details of your complaint to either:

• the Complaints Section, Law Society of Ireland, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 or
• the Clerk of the Disciplinary Tribunal, The Friary, Bow Street, Dublin 7

The majority of complaints are generally addressed to the Complaints Section of the Law Society of Ireland. However, every client of a solicitor has a right to make a direct application to the Disciplinary Tribunal, and it is not necessary to have the complaint dealt with in the first instance by the Law Society.

Independent Adjudicator of the Law Society

The role of the Independent Adjudicator is to ensure that complaints about the conduct of solicitors are dealt with fairly and impartially by the Law Society. If you are dissatisfied with the way in which your complaint has been handled by the Law Society, you may ask the Adjudicator to examine the matter. Your request should be in writing and addressed to Independent Adjudicator of the Law Society, 26/27 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin 2.

Complaints to the Adjudicator should include:

• the Law Society's reference
• the date on which the society made its decision
• confirmation that the matter has not been considered by the Disciplinary Tribunal

Complaints to the Adjudicator must be made not later than three (3) years after the date on which the society has made a decision on the complaint.

Further Information

For further information concerning the making of a complaint against a solicitor, please access the Law Society's website at www.lawsociety.ie.

The Office of the Minister for Justice and Equality has no function in the investigation of complaints against solicitors. It is also outside the scope of the official functions of the Minister for Justice and Equality to offer any legal advice in this regard as he could not with propriety do so.