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The following documents contain the Law Society of Northern Ireland's Privacy Notices in relation to the following:
If you have any queries please email the Society's Internal Data Protection Liaison Officer at: peter.obrien@lawsoc-ni.org
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Law Society of Northern Ireland staff have the right to work in an environment free from violent, threatening, or abusive behaviour.
The Society takes a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse and threats made towards staff and will terminate any telephone call or other communication that it considers abusive in line with our Unacceptable Behaviour policy.
The Society may refer individuals to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), where necessary.
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The Law Society of Northern Ireland aims to deliver to a high standard when we engage with our members, the public and others who interact with our work. As in every organisation, and despite our best efforts, things sometimes can and do go wrong. We want to know when we have not provided the kind of service we aim for. That way, we can try to put things right, learn from any mistakes and take action to improve our service for the future.
The Feedback & Complaints Policy tells you how to give feedback or make a complaint if you consider that we have not met this standard. It describes our approach to managing complaints, sets out the responsibilities of our staff in dealing with the complaints and outlines the timescales. Similarly, we welcome feedback on what we are doing well. We also welcome ideas, suggestions and more general comments about our work.
The Society's Approach to Reasonable Adjustments
An inclusive approach
The Law Society recognises that everyone should have equal access to our services and can communicate easily with the Law Society. The Reasonable Adjustment Policy is designed to ensure that anyone with a disability or health condition can request adjustments to remove or reduce barriers they may be facing.
The full text of the Reasonable Adjustment Policy can be found here: RAR1 Reasonable Adjustments Policy
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If you require adjustment please complete a Reasonable Adjustment Request Application: RAR2 Reasonable Adjustments Request Application
The completed form can be returned to:
- Email to enquiry@lawsoc-ni.org
- By post to
The Law Society of Northern Ireland
96 Victoria Street,
Belfast, County Antrim,
BT1 3GN -
Once we receive your request we will acknowledge receipt and issue you with an application form for you to complete and return to us.
Upon receipt of a completed form, where possible, we will provide our response within 14 working days.
For help completing the form, please call 028 9023 1614 between 09.00 & 17.00 Monday to Friday.
We will treat your request sensitively and we will discuss how best we can help.
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Adjustments will be identified and implemented on a case-by-case basis taking into account your individual circumstances and the reason for your contact with us.
Some examples of adjustments include:-
- Changing how we do things;
- Providing information in an appropriate format;
- Physical adaptions to our office space;
- Communicating through a representative or intermediary.
This is not an exhaustive list of adjustments and more information on the adjustments available can be found in the Reasonable Adjustment Policy: RAR1 Reasonable Adjustments Policy
While we will endeavour to make all reasonable efforts to meet any adjustment requests we will not be able to agree an adjustment that is not in keeping with our statutory responsibilities or functions as a regulator.
If you have a disability or health condition and require a reasonable adjustment to be made by the Society to enable you to access our services or resources and require to nominate a person to represent you please complete a Form of Authority (RAR4 Reasonable Adjustments Request FOA) and return it with your Request for Reasonable Adjustment Application.
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Any agreed adjustments will be recorded on a file and retained by the Society to ensure the adjustment can be afforded and observed any time you contact us.
If your request for reasonable adjustment cannot be granted in the circumstances requested we will let you know as soon as possible and provide you with a reason for the decision. If you are dissatisfied with the decision you should refer the matter to the Head of the Department in which your adjustment was requested, in the first instance. They will make a final decision.
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If you remain dissatisfied with the outcome of your application please complete an Appeal Application (RAR3 Reasonable Adjustments Request Appeal). This Appeal Application should be returned to the Society’s Disability Liaison Officer:-
- Email to dlo@lawsoc-ni.org; or
- By post to:
The Disability Liaison Officer
Law Society of Northern Ireland
96 Victoria Street,
Belfast,
County Antrim,
BT1 3GNYour application for appeal will be considered by the Disability Liaison Officer and the Head of Governance and Corporate Services. The outcome of the appeal will be communicated to you in writing.
If you have requested reasonable adjustments in association with a client complaint of inadequate service against your solicitor and you are dissatisfied with the arrangements we have made, or been unable to make, you can also write to the Legal Services Oversight Commissioner for Northern Ireland, at 2nd Floor, Craigantlet Buildings, Stoney Road, Belfast, BT4 3SX or by email at marian.cree@legalcommissioner-ni.org.uk.