The Legal Ombudsman should be given powers to handle complaints about all providers of legal services, the profession’s consumer watchdog said today.

In the meantime, the scheme should be extended on a voluntary, 'stop-gap’ basis, to cover activities such as will-writing - an avenue that the LeO has already pledged to pursue.

These are among the recommendations contained in the response of the Legal Services Consumer Panel to the ombudsman’s strategy for 2012-2015.

The panel stressed that it would welcome moves to bring claims management companies (CMCs) within the ombudsman's jurisdiction. 'It is odd for the [Claims Management Regulator] to act as both rule-maker and complaints-handler,’ the watchdog observed. 'Such a step would enhance redress for consumers of [CMCs] as the regulator cannot require firms to pay compensation.’

In 2009/10, the Ministry of Justice’s Claims Management Regulator helped 7,000 consumers who experienced problems.

The panel also called on the ombudsman to focus on diversity, ineligible complaints and complaints outcomes in assessing its future performance.

Read the consultation response.