Lord Chancellor To Review Legal Watchdog

The Lord Chancellor's Department has appointed a senior civil servant, to investigate the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO).

The review of the LSO Ann Abraham's office, which oversees the handling of complaints against solicitors, barristers, licensed conveyancers and legal executives, comes two years later than originally planned.

Ministers agreed to postpone the review to allow Abraham - who only took up her post in 1997 - to establish herself in the appointment.

The report by Ann Chant will scrutinise the performance, operations and financial management of office, and will examine the feasibility of combining the offices of the Legal Services Ombudsman with the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner.