MORE complaints about solicitors are being upheld but members of the profession are still failing to tell dissatisfied clients about the independent body set up to resolve issues.

The Scottish Legal Complaints Commission's half-yearly report says the proportion of legitimate complaints rose from 40 per cent to 60 per cent, while the number of accepted complaints resolved or upheld in favour of the complainer has also increased - from 97 to 115 compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.

The SLCC says: "We are increasingly providing redress for those clients who receive a poor service from their solicitors - a picture also supported by the record level of compensation awards and refunds of legal fees we highlighted in our last annual report."

In a recent poll by the Law Society of Scotland, dissatisfied clients were asked what action they had taken. Only a third took any action, and none at all knew they could refer their complaint to the SLCC.

A spokesman for SLCC said: "Solicitors throughout Scotland have a duty to make their clients aware of the SLCC and how to make a complaint to us.

"We continue to see evidence that this is not happening - less than five per cent of those who complain to us say that they found out about us from their solicitor. We are concerned that, as a result, the voices of many dissatisfied clients are just not being heard.

"As a priority, we are currently working with the Law Society to ensure that all solicitors provide clear and consistent signposting to our service."