Nearly 1,300 complaints were lodged against lawyers last year, report shows

Of these, 1,233 related to solicitors and 57 to barristers, reflecting the higher number of solicitors and their greater level of contact with consumers, the authority said.

The level of complaints across the country was down 4pc compared with 2022.

However, a county-by-county breakdown showed that trend was bucked in Carlow, where the number of complaints almost tripled in the space of a year, albeit from a low base.

The number of complaints against practitioners based in Offaly rose by 81pc, while there were also significant increases in Leitrim (up 46pc), Kerry (up 33pc) and Dublin (up 4pc).

The complaints figures are contained in the LSRA’s annual report for last year.

Unsurprisingly, the largest number of complaints was in Dublin (525), where there is the biggest concentration of legal services. This was followed by Cork (134) and Limerick (61).

However, some counties, such as Kerry, with 56, and Leitrim, with 47, appear to have a disproportionate number of complaints given their relatively small legal communities.

The reason for this is not clear, but the LSRA pointed out that multiple complaints can be received about a single practitioner.

Last year was the watchdog’s fourth full year in operation, and it said it was seeing a consistent trend in the type of complaints being made.

Three-quarters featured an allegation of misconduct. Complaints about inadequate legal services and overcharging were the next most common.

In three cases, the lawyers involved complied only after the LSRA sought orders to have them jailed for contempt of court

In relation to misconduct complaints, 25pc concerned conduct likely to bring the profession into disrepute, 16pc involved a failure to communicate, 11pc related to a failure to hand over a file, deeds or documents, 9pc related to a delay, 8pc involved fraud or dishonesty and 7pc related to a failure to account for clients’ money.

Another trend that is clear from the report is that almost half of complaints never get out of the starting blocks.

Of 1,432 “closed” by the watchdog last year, 699 were found to be inadmissible.

Only 111 – around 8pc of complaints dealt with – were upheld, while 138, or 10pc, were not upheld.

A total of 256 complaints (18pc) were resolved with the assistance of the LSRA, and 30 of alleged misconduct were referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal for an inquiry.

The LSRA said it made 12 applications to the High Court for orders to enforce directions against practitioners.

In three cases, the lawyers involved complied only after the LSRA sought orders to have them jailed for contempt of court.

One positive trend noted by LSRA chief executive Dr Brian Doherty in the report was the number of complainants and legal practitioners willing to engage in informal dispute resolution.

Efforts at informal resolution were assisted by LSRA mediators in 93 complaints, up from 61 in 2022 and 38 in 2021.

Dr Doherty said 31 complaints were brought to successful informal resolution during the year, up from 22 in 2022.