Chivers Solicitors

I normally don't leave long detailed reviews but I'm left with no choice due to how unprofessional this organisation is. My 14 year old got himself into a fight at school and charges were pressed so Warren Ridley was assigned to the case in April which is still ongoing. Up to this very moment he has never directly spoken to me despite my several requests on advice.. His assistant (Aisha) took on the job herself and represented me and my son very poorly at the station. Prior to the interview, I asked several times to forward a recording of the incident which lasted about 40 seconds so they could get an overview and prepare my son but she refused saying she wants to get the evidence directly from the opposing party which she never received. On the day of the interview, as soon as she saw us at the station, she requested we showed her the footage I'd been begging to provide weeks before and immediately she saw it, she called Warren Ridley - in her words "to get advice on how to go about things".. The first thing she blurted out on the phone was "T*** assaulted the other school mate" within the earshot of the interviewing officer.. she then received advice from Warren.. Imagine your representative not having a clue on how to proceed without advice. Upon ending the call, I was taken aback by her enthusiastic jubilation when she exclaimed "Warren, he's so good.. gosh he's good!" like he had magically done something spectacular on the call and I was puzzled like what? Does that mean the case is over before it began and she said no, he's going to get your son off the hook as this is a first time offense. She then giggled her way through the interview, her entire demeanor undermined the potential severity of the case, very nonchallant and unbothered... then I heard nothing from them until an introductory letter was received a while later.. I called their office last week to make a complaint and requested to speak with Mr Marcus Farrar who supposedly handles complaints, the secretary I spoke with said he wasn't available but he'll contact me asap which he didn't and when I tried to call them yesterday, I realised I'd been blocked! Who does that? Are they even allowed to do that with an on ongoing case without proper justification which according to Google is considered "a breach of professional conduct". I then used another number to call them only for the secretary to inform me that Mr Farrar can't speak to me that I'd have to write him to make a complaint which is why I'm leaving a review instead, and when I asked why they would block a contact from an ongoing case, she said she has no idea - only for her to request for my blocked number so she could re-add it to my son's file on their system as they no longer have it (weird). I then told her I have an update on my son's case, she said the assistant Aisha would contact me the next day which is today but she never did.. Checking other people's reviews, the only negative ones are of Mr Ridley's services and I think this organisation should take heed of staff(s) that don't portray or represent whatever excellence they may have to offer as one bad apple does affect the whole barrel in the long run.. It already feels like not having a lawyer at all so If they want to cease to act for my son, they should provide reasonable notice and explain our options and not be disrespectful for trying to make a complaint - this is no way to treat anyone regardless of their status - they've been very rude, inadequate, unhelpful, dismissive and unprofessional so far.