The Legal Ombudsman (LeO) has consulted on its annual business plan and budget. The consultation paper also sets out LeO's proposals for a new three-year strategy and an indicative three-year work programme.

The Law Society broadly agrees with the strategic drivers identified by LeO. LeO's primary focus should be ensuring that it provides a good quality service to clients and the legal profession so that disputes can be resolved quickly and efficiently. The Law Society plans to work with LeO in 2017 to improve the guidance to solicitors to ensure they fulfil their regulatory and signposting requirements.

The Society's response also highlighted that the regulated profession should not subsidise a complaints scheme run by LeO covering unregulated firms. Similarly, it would be inappropriate for any groundwork exploring the potential for such an extension of LeO's jurisdiction to be funded through solicitors' practicing certificate fees. 

The full response can be downloaded here.