Once satisfied that the complaint falls within the office’s terms of reference, the Independent Adjudicator will examine the Law Society’s records, make whatever enquiries are considered necessary, and having completed the investigation, may if appropriate, direct the Law Society to either re-examine the complaint or make an application to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which may lead to the disciplining of a solicitor. The Independent Adjudicator may, if appropriate, direct the Law Society to re-examine its decision concerning an application for a grant from the Law Society’s Compensation Fund.

The Independent Adjudicator cannot award compensation and cannot consider any matters which have been dealt with by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal or, in the case of complaints about excessive fees, the Taxing Master. If a complaint is still under investigation by the Law Society, the Independent Adjudicator will await the Law Society’s determination before dealing with any complaint made.