SiennaMarieCheeseman
Poor Communication and Inadequate Case Preparation
I instructed PIO Legal Services to represent me in Family Court proceedings under Legal Aid. Unfortunately, my experience left me with serious concerns regarding communication and case preparation. Following an initial meeting on 8 April 2026, I provided my hearing bundle and proposed cross-examination. Despite this, I spent the following weeks repeatedly chasing for updates and return calls, with very little proactive communication from the firm. The revised hearing bundle was not provided to me until approximately 30 minutes before my final hearing, leaving no meaningful opportunity to review it or discuss the case properly with my advocate. I was also promised a conference with my advocate before the hearing on several occasions, but this never took place. I would like to make it clear that my interactions with Lucas Copping-Trigg were consistently courteous, professional and helpful. Whenever I spoke with him, he genuinely tried to assist despite being an apprentice, and my concerns are not directed towards him. My concerns relate to the overall preparation and communication surrounding my case. Following the hearing, I also received client care documentation dated at the beginning of the retainer which I had not previously been provided with. I have now requested my complete client file so that I can fully understand how my case was prepared before deciding whether to pursue a formal complaint.
