The Office for Legal Complaints is currently in the process of setting up the Legal Ombudsman Scheme, which is expected to be in operation in the autumn of 2010, and has spent £1,643,000 of its implementation budget since 1 July 2009, when it was established. This represents an average cost of £235,000 per month.
The running costs of the Legal Ombudsman Scheme in its first year of operation are anticipated to be in line with its forecast budget of £19.9m per annum.
No IT system for managing the complaints system has been installed yet. The Office for Legal Complaints has completed a tendering process for the installation of a case management system and supporting infrastructure. An announcement of the successful outcome of this process is expected to be made shortly.
The Office for Legal Complaints announced its permanent location on Tuesday 23 February. It will be located in the centre of Birmingham in Baskerville House.
As required under the Legal Services Act 2007 any commitments for premises undertaken by the OLC within its first five years must be approved by the Lord Chancellor. Ministerial approval for the OLC's preferred premises was given on 10 February.