The Law Society has kicked off a new consultation addressing controversial plans to publish the complaints-handling track records of law firms, it was announced today (17 August).

The initial study, which has been launched by Chancery Lane's independent Legal Complaints Service (LCS), will canvass lawyers, representative bodies and members of the public over the move, which threatens to lay bare the inner workings of firms across England and Wales.

As part of the move, the LCS has published an online questionnaire – lawsurvey.org – to encourage contributions and has commissioned market research agency Gfk NOP to conduct the exercise. The consultation will last up to six weeks.

Commenting on the move, LCS chief executive Deborah Evans said: "It is our belief that good firms would not be threatened by the publication of complaints data; indeed, it is our contention that they will flourish as consumer confidence in the way they operate is reinforced."

She added: "Transparency will allow consumers to make informed choices. The ability of the public to discern from balanced data what represents good service will result in higher standards from solicitors."

The move comes as the LCS, which last year fielded more than 18,000 complaints against solicitors in England and Wales, wrestles to up its own performance.

Earlier this summer, Legal Services Complaints Commissioner (LSCC) Zahida Manzoor again hit out at both the LCS and the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), branding efforts to speed up complaints-handling as detrimental to quality of service for consumers.

In March, Legal Week revealed the LCS could also be in line for financial sanctions after missing some of its quality targets to 31 March, 2007. Discussions between Manzoor and the body are ongoing and a decision is expected in October.