Call for new watchdog to regulate legal profession in North
An independent watchdog with the power to strike off lawyers should be established in Northern Ireland, it was claimed today.
Self-regulation of the legal profession leaves clients frightened to take up complaints, a cross-border group called the Victims of the Legal Profession Society added.
Members met the North's Finance Minister Sammy Wilson earlier this month.
Spokesman Joe Ferris said: "I would like to see an independent body being established as a minimum because quite a number of people are frightened of solicitors."
A Legal Services Review Group chaired by Professor George Bain has produced recommendations on regulating lawyers. They include reforming the complaints handling system of the Law Society and the Bar Council, regulatory bodies, the creation of a Legal Services Oversight Commissioner and other measures on competition.
Mr Ferris, a nurse from Omagh, Co Tyrone, has had problems transferring land dating back 24 years. His group is based largely in Co Tyrone and Donegal and has 50-60 members.
"I would like to see an independent regulator similar to the Nursing and Midwifery Council where whenever a nurse is found guilty of a breach of trust the person is struck off," he added.
The Law Society said it had offered to meet Mr Wilson but received no response.
A spokesman added: "The president of the society has written to the minister today again offering to meet with him to discuss his concerns."
Mr Wilson said he had heard concerns from many constituents about the actions of their solicitors.
"Meeting with this group of individuals, who have bad experiences of their dealings with the legal profession, has crystallised in my mind the need for changes to be made to the way in which the legal profession is regulated," he said.
Regulation responsibility is to transfer from his department to Justice Minister David Ford.
"I intend to recommend to him that he has a close look at Bain as I believe that we can do more to strengthen the existing system," he added.
"Users of legal services should have access to a complaints system that is open, transparent and independent and I hope that any future legislation will reflect those aims.
"It cannot and must not be left to solicitors to regulate themselves. The complaints which I receive about the Law Society indicate that it is not giving the confidence required to those who feel they have been let down by their solicitors."
