THE ADVOCATES COMPLAINTS COMMISSION
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HELP FORM
SUMMARY OF A COMPLAINT AGAINST AN ADVOCATE
(Please complete in Block/Capital letters)
Fill out all spaces on this form. When providing documents to the Advocates
Complaints Commission, please send copies only. All documents received, whether
originals or copies, become the property of the Commission and are subject to future
destruction.
The Advocates Complaints Commission will review and evaluate your complaint to
determine whether investigation and prosecution is appropriate. You will be notified
of our decision in writing. Thank you for your cooperation.
Section One – Personal Details
1. (a) Your full name: Surname: ……………………………………………………..……..
First name: ……………………………Other: …………………...………………………
(b) Title (Please state if Mr/Mrs/Miss/Other) ………………..…………………………
(c) Personal identification (e.g. identity card/passport/driving licence)
number……..……………………………………………………………………………….
2. Your postal address
……………………………………………………………..…………
3. Physical address: …………....... Town………………………………………...…..
County……..………………….. Sub-County..………………………..…………...
Division….…………………….. Location……………………………..…..………
Sub location…….……………...
4. Your Telephone number(s):
Mobile…………………….……………. Office…………………………………….
Home……………………………………
5. Email address……………………………
6. Are you making this complaint on behalf of another person such as a client or
relative? Yes No
7. If yes, please tell us :
(a) Complainant’s full name and postal address…………………………………….….
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(b) Reason for complaining on behalf of someone else
………………………………………………………………………………………………
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………………………………………………………………………………………………
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(c) Are you authorised to make this complaint on behalf of this person?
o If yes please attach written authorization.
o No, Seek written authorization.
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Section 2 – The Advocate about Whom You Are Complaining
8. The Advocate’s Surname: ………………………………………………………………...
First name: ……………………………………Other name:
……………………………..
(a) The name of the Advocate’s firm, if applicable
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
(b) Number of advocates in the law firm Sole Practitioner 2-10 Above
11 Unknown
(c) Advocate’s Postal Address …………………… Postcode:
……………..……………
(d) Town ………………………
(e) Advocate’s Physical Address:
Building……………………………………..…………
Street………………………………….Town …………………………………………
(f) Telephone numbers:
Office……………………..…Mobile……….…………………
(g) Email address………………………………………..
9. Describe your relationship to the advocate who is the subject of your complaint:
I am a client I am an opposing advocate
I am a former client other…………………………………………..
I am an opposing party
10. If you are a client state;
Date of first contact with advocate..........................................................................
Date of last contact with
advocate...........................................................................
11. If the advocate you are complaining about is acting for you, please answer these
questions:
(a) Have you already raised your complaint in writing either with the advocate
himself or a senior partner in the law firm?
Yes No
(i) If so, who?
..............................................................................................
(ii) If yes, enclose copies of all relevant correspondence: Enclosed
Not Enclosed
(iii) If no, please briefly advise why you have not raised the matter in
writing………………………………...………………….……………………..
(iv) What is the advocate’s file reference number?
..........................................
(b) When did you first raise your complaint with your
advocate(s)…..…………………………………………………………………………
(c) Have the advocates told you they will no longer act for you? Yes No
(d) When was the last time you were in contact with the advocate and what
occurred at that time…………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………......………………
…………………………………………………………………………......……………
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
(e) If finalised, have you received a fee note/invoice/bill of costs? Yes No
(Attach copy if available)
(f) Did you have a written fee agreement duly executed between you and your
advocate(s) : Yes No (Attach copy of the agreement)
(g) If there was no written fee agreement, please explain your understanding
regarding payment to your advocate of fees, expenses, costs,
etc.………………………………………………………………………………………
………………....................................................................................................
……………………………………………………………………………………..……
……………………………………………………………….………………….………
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(h) Have you paid any fee to your advocate(s): Yes No
(i) If so, how much have you paid? .............................................................
(ii) Were you issued with receipts? Yes No (Please attach copy of
receipts)
(i) Has the advocate taken you to court for unpaid legal fees? Yes No I do
not know
If yes, when did the advocate commence the legal proceedings?
.........................
Please note, generally the ACC cannot handle a complaint if the advocate has
commenced legal proceedings to recover the unpaid costs.
12. Have you instructed a new advocate to act for you in the same matter? Yes
No
If yes, please give brief particulars of your new advocate(s) as we may need to
contact him/them, at no charge to you:
(a) Surname: ……………………………….Middle name………………………….……
Other name …………………………….
(b) The name of the new advocate’s law firm:
………………………………………….
(c) The new advocates contacts:
(i) Postal Address…………………………Postcode………………………………….
(ii) Physical Address:
Building……………………………………
Street……………………………………… Town…………….………………………
(iii) Telephone number:
Office .……………………………
Mobile……………………….……
(iv) Email address……………………..
13. When did you instruct your new
advocate(s)…………………………………………..
14. Can we contact your new advocate(s) to discuss your complaint? Yes No
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Section Three – The Kind of Work Involved
(You must complete this section)
15. (a) Briefly state what kind of legal work you instructed your advocate(s) to do:
…………………………………………………………………………………..…………..
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(b) What is the status of the legal work done so far?
..............................................................................................................................
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
(c) If a suit has been filed, please give particulars of the suit, including suit number,
the court, parties involved, the stage it has reached etc. Also attach copies of
any relevant court documents in your possession
…...…………………………………………………………………………………….......
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Section Four – Further Information about the Work Involved
16. The name of the deceased?
......................................................................................
17. Date of
death…………………..…………………………………………………………...
18. The name(s) and address (es) of those dealing with the deceased’s affairs (i.e.
executor, administrators)………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
19. Are you a beneficiary of the estate Yes No
20. Names and addresses of other beneficiaries
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………….
21. If the matter relates to a road accident, the following questions must be answered
in full. Attach photocopy of police abstract:
(a) Name(s) and address (es) of the person(s) injured or killed
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
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(b) Names and address (es) of insured/defendant, if any
………………………………………………………………………………………………
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(c) Name and address (es) of insurer(s)
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………
(d) Insurance policy number………………………………………………….…………..
(e) Insurance claim
number……………………….……….………………………………
(f) Amount of compensation awarded/settlement:
Kshs…………………………...…..
(g) Amount paid to you or beneficiary:
Kshs…………………………………………….
NOTE: Please attach copies of all the relevant documents to support your
complaint and a list of these documents.
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Section Five – What exactly is Your Complaint?
22. Please say briefly what you are dissatisfied with and why, and/or what you think
the advocate did wrong or what he failed to
do….......................................................
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Section Six – Setting Your Complaint
23. Please say what you would like done to put things right;
Have my documents/file returned to me
If so, please specify the documents you want returned
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
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Improve my communication with the advocate
Improve the service provided with the advocate
Receive an apology
Resolve my dispute about fees
Resolve my dispute with the advocate
Other……………………………………………….………………………………………
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DECLARATION: I declare that the information I have provided above is true and
accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that all information that I submit
can be disclosed to the advocate.
Signed…………………………………… Date……………………………………………..
Send the completed form together with photocopied attachments to;
The Secretary
The Advocates Complaints Commission
Cooperative Bank House, 20th Floor
Haile Selassie Avenue.
P O Box 48048 – 00100, Nairobi
Tel. +254-20-2224029, 251915
Fax 315317
Email:
[email protected]
