Almost 1,200 public complaints were made against solicitors to the regulatory body, the Law Society, in the past year. More than half the complaints handled were allegations of misconduct, a quarter alleged inadequate professional services and the remainder were claims of excessive fees.
Of the 1,191 complaints received from solicitor's clients, 1,026 were ruled admissible and investigated by the society, according to its annual report.
The complaints, for the period October 1st, 1996, to October 1st, 1997, show a decrease of 17 per cent on the same period last year at a time when the profession is expanding, according to the society's newly elected president, Mr Laurence Shields.
Five solicitors' practices were wound up and their files seized by the society, the annual report says. Four practitioners had their practising certificates suspended or refused and one solicitor was referred to the High Court's disciplinary tribunal. One application to freeze the bank accounts of a solicitor was made in the High Court.
The annual report of the lay members who are involved in handling complaints from members of the public expressed "serious concern that a small number of solicitors against whom complaints have been made show disregard to the society's complaints examination process". Such behaviour was unacceptable, the report said.
The Law Society recently appointed its first adjudicator to hear appeals from solicitors' clients who are not satisfied with the society's handling of their complaints.
Mr Eamon Condon, who has an office in Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin, can either direct the society to re-investigate a complaint or refer it to the disciplinary tribunal.
He can also make non-binding general recommendations to the society regarding its handling of complaints.
Mr Condon, who began dealing with complaints from the public last month, is a retired banker.
During the period, the society investigated 119 allegations of excessive fees, 250 allegations of inadequate professional services and 657 allegations of misconduct.