Dr. Brian Doherty:

We will take over the complaints function for both barristers and solicitors. Under the Act, there is a regimen as to how complaints will be received by the authority. We can take complaints about inadequate legal services, excessive costs and any act or omission of the legal practitioner which constitutes misconduct. There is quite a structured system by which those complaints will be processed for admissibility. There is a problem-solving informal resolution and mediation scheme within the Act. There is a function for the authority to determine complaints at certain levels and for the establishment of the legal practitioners disciplinary tribunal.