The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) plans to make an announcement on the formal creation of the Legal Services Complaints Commissioner 'very shortly', it told the Gazette this week.

The Lord Chancellor announced at the Law Society annual conference last September his intention to appoint a commissioner with powers over the Society, including setting targets for complaints handling and levying fines (see [2003] Gazette, 2 October, 1).

Legal Services Ombudsman Zahida Manzoor will take on the role in addition to her existing job.

A DCA spokeswoman said any delay had been down to procedural requirements in getting the appointment cleared by Parliament.

'There is no hold-up,' she insisted.

'It's just a bit slow.'

Paula Rohan