Terrible client care, rude and unprofessional
A complaint is pending with ICA Malaga for breach of client confidentiality and other breaches of the Code of Ethics.
As a retired Solicitor (Lawyer) in the United Kingdom, I am disappointed that I need to leave a negative review about fellow legal professionals.
I first instructed Larios Tres Legal (LTL) in December 2022 to deal with a complicated inheritance case. When I first approached them with my case, they impressed me with their attitude, and seemed to have many ideas to progress my case. On that basis we agreed a fee structure and I instructed them.
Since my instruction of LTL, my experience of their handling of my case has been the opposite of their initial attitude described above. I have received poor client care, a lack of professionalism, and no focus or strategy. They have also been rude and have tried to overcharge me.
Specific details are as follows:
1) Since December 2022, apart from obtaining a few bank documents and Deeds, there has been hardly any progress on my case. The last development was in May 2023. All the ideas they proposed initially have vanished and they have not taken any steps to protect my interests. When I have asked them for updates and positive progress I have been met with apathy and rudeness.
2) I have not heard from them since the middle of June 2023. Not even one email or telephone call to provide me with an update. This has been a frequent feature from the start where I have been left completely in the dark not knowing what was happening.
When I informed them of my concerns about the lack of communication, I was told by email:
“The lawyers are only obliged to report to clients’ relevant developments/updates in their cases, or important notifications and/or economic proposals from counterparties. Therefore, any other request for information will be considered as an extraordinary service and will be charged according to official tables as a report and/or consultation.”
In effect they are saying – don’t contact us until we contact you!
3) When I insisted on receiving better communication and progress, I received an invoice in the sum of 2361,02€ for what they call “extraordinary services” which consisted of a few short emails. I do not believe it is unreasonable for a client to expect updates especially when there is a lack of proactivity from their lawyers.
4) The person dealing with my case has been rude to me on multiple occasions. I have been made to feel that I should be grateful for their handling of my case, even though hardly any progress has been made in 8 months.
5) They have failed to provide any consistent legal advice, follow any strategy, and failed to follow my instructions. When I have asked them to explain their advice and/or strategy they have brushed me aside.
I am not a demanding client, but I do expect to know what is happening and see results for a professional service I am paying for. I do not know the reason(s) for this situation. It may be because they simply are out of their depth in handling a complex case, or it may be that they are not used to being held accountable to a client and expect their clients to be more submissive and compliant. Whatever the reason, future prospective clients (especially non-Spanish speaking clients) should be aware of the type of service they can expect to receive based on my experience.
As Spain does not have an independent body that investigates complaints against Lawyers like the Legal Ombudsman in England, I feel I must leave this review.
The service I have received from LTL has been far from extraordinary. It has been terrible. They have lacked proactivity, failed to keep me informed and updated, and behaved unprofessionally. When I attempted to address my concerns about the lack of progress, I received an exorbitant invoice for “extraordinary services”.
I have simply given up on trying to seek updates or request for progress to be made in my case as I know it will be futile.
As a Lawyer I confirm that everything I have stated is 100% true and factual and can be proven. I have no doubt that following the posting of this review, LTL will react with threats and hostility.
As stated previously, this is an honest and accurate review left out of pure frustration. My only objective was to instruct lawyers who would act in my best interests and diligently. Initially I thought that based on their promises and claims on their website, LTL were the right people for the job. I was wrong.
P.S Since posting my review they have breached my client confidentiality by revealing details of my case online. More proof of how unprofessional they are.