Commentary on Sections Section 31: Jurisdiction of the Solicitors Complaints Committee
Section 31 broadly defines what types of person are eligible to bring complaints to the Solicitors Complaints Committee and who may be the subject of a complaint. In relation to a solicitor, the respondent may also be, where appropriate, his or her firm.
Subsection (1) provides that a complaint will fall within the jurisdiction of the complaints committee if it is not excluded under section 31 (because the respondent’s in-house complaints procedures have not been used) or if the complainant falls within section 32 and wishes to have the complaint dealt with by the Complaints Committee.
Subsection (2) provides that the right of a person to make a complaint and for the Complaints Committee to investigate may not be limited or excluded by any contract term.