Caseloads and Outcomes 2007/2008

Below are the cumulative quarterly casework statistics.

Table 1 shows the number of reports issued

Table 2 shows the turnaround times from receipt of the the Professional Body’s file on the relevant case to the issue of the report.

Table 3 shows the percentage of cases (broken down by Professional body) where the case resulted in a recommendation (reconsideration and/or compensation); formal criticism; or no recommendation.

Table 4 shows the average compensation received by those who had a recommendation for compensation.


Table 1
Reports Issued Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4
  320 789 1235 1858

Table 2
Turnaround Times Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4
0-2 Months 16% 11% 10% 15%
3-4 Months 93% 92% 91% 91%
5-6 Months 100% 100% 100% 100%
6+ Months - - - -

There have also been 6 reports issued which were investigated by the Scottish Legal Ombudsman on our behalf. These reports have been omitted from the figures above.

Table 3

  Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4
LCS          
Recommendation 83 35% 78 23% 78 25% 85 21%
Criticism 10 4% 33 10% 20 6% 28 7%
No recommendation 146 61% 222 67% 216 69% 294 72%
SRA          
Recommendation 11 20% 14 13% 12 13% 14 9%
Criticism 3 6% 13 12% 10 11% 5 3%
No recommendation 40 74% 84 76% 71 76% 138 88%
BSB          
Recommendation 3 13% 1 5% 8 23% 8 14%
Criticism 1 4% 1 5% 1 3% 4 7%
No recommendation 20 83% 18 90% 26 74% 47 80%

* The Ombudsman may recommend that the professional body reconsider a case if she believes that their investigation was inadequate in some way (e.g. issues were overlooked, or the decision was wrong). A reconsideration may result in the professional body providing a remedy to the complainant.

In 2007-2008 there were 10 cases brought to the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman about the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, 5 resulted in a recommendation with the remaining 5 resulting in no recommendation being made. There were no cases brought to the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman about the Institute of Legal Executives, Chartered Institute of Patent Agents or the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys during this year.

Table 4
  Qtr 1 Qtr 2 Qtr 3 Qtr 4
Average Compensation Award £511.00 £431.00 £421.00 £388.00