Practitioners can be forgiven for feeling under the cosh on too many fronts – the recession/depression and the wave of new competition soon to be unleashed by the Legal Services Act are but two urgent challenges. Then, of course, there is the transition to a new system of regulation, which in any ‘normal’ business cycle would be enough of a challenge in itself.

In this regard the Law Society’s £275,000 client care package is an encouraging development as the Office for Legal Complaints begins to take shape. If there was ever any doubt, it is now clear that this will be an organisation to be reckoned with – chair Elizabeth France and newly appointed chief ombudsman Adam Sampson (see News) are renowned hardball players when it comes to protecting the consumer interest. Solicitors can expect to encounter a different type of complaints-handling model from that of the LCS – as Society chief executive Des Hudson has made clear, radical changes to accessibility and process are likely to be priorities.

It is important therefore that solicitors take advantage of the help that is on offer in gearing up for the transfer of responsibility for complaints-handling. We apologise for adding to an already bulging in-tray, but we urge you to be prepared.