The new Legal Ombudsman, whose complaints service started work on October 6, will have all branches of legal practice under his jurisdiction, including that of residential conveyancing solicitors.
The LeO is taking over from the Law Society's Legal Complaints Service and expects to handle about 100,000 calls a year from members of the public in England and Wales who are unable to gain redress from the solicitors or barristers whom they have consulted.
In an interview published on the BBC website, Chief Ombudsman Adam Sampson said he would "crack down" on lawyers who charged high fees, but did not give commensurate service.
He said that the new service, which was proposed under the Legal Services Act 2007, would protect the legal profession's reputation by tackling those members of it who were failing to act in their clients' best interests.
As with other branches of legal practice, residential conveyancing solicitors could be liable for compensation payments up to a maximum of £30,000 should the LeO find against them and in favour of a client.
