On 11 January 2016, the Consumer Disputes Board was established at the Bar Association.

The Consumer Disputes Board shall hear disputes between a consumer and a lawyer or law firm concerning services provided to the consumer by the lawyer or law firm. Consumer in this context means a natural person acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business or profession.

If the client is dissatisfied with the service provided by the lawyer, the client should contact the lawyer to discuss the matter and to try to reach a consensual solution.

If a case has been initiated with the lawyer’s insurer, the matter must be resolved within the framework of the insurance contract before the consumer can turn to the Consumer Disputes Board. An insurance case will thus be considered part of the consensual solution to be finalised before a case can be initiated with the Consumer Disputes Board. If a case is nevertheless submitted to the Consumer Disputes Board, the Board will declare it dormant until the insurance issue is resolved.

If it is not possible to reach a consensual solution, the client can have the matter heard by the Consumer Disputes Board of the Bar Association. A lawyer is obliged to participate in the Consumer Disputes Board’s review if a consensual solution has not been reached.

If the client has not contacted the lawyer to discuss the complaint and try to reach a consensual solution, but goes directly to the Consumer Disputes Board to have the dispute examined, the Board may reject it.

A prerequisite for the dispute to be examined by the Consumer Disputes Board is that it is not being dealt with or has been decided by a court.

In order to be able to seek redress, the consumer must apply to the Consumer Disputes Board within one year of the complaint being made in writing to the lawyer.