How do I complain about a solicitor (UK dopers)

Factual Questions
1

I have been in a house-selling/buying chain which has collapsed after five months of negotiations. To cut a very long story short, it seems that crucial information about one party in the chain was not passed on from one solicitor to the others. The information would have been available five months ago.
The result is that three separate sets of people have been left high and dry, and out of pocket.

In my view the solicitor in question (not mine) has acted negligently, failing to inform her client about his buyer’s position, and failing to keep all other interested parties informed.

What can I do? Is there a policing body for solicitors? Would this be the Law Society? (I had a look at the Law Society website, but couldn’t see anything about complaints from clients). Is there some sort of Ombudsman for solicitors?

2

Solicitors are self-policing through the Law Society - specifically the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors. Details are here http://www.lawsoc.org.uk/dcs/fourth_tier.asp?section_id=180

3

Not sure if you’re getting two things confused.

A complaint to the Law Society alerts the professional body to possible shortcomings in relation to one of the members but it doesn’t, as best I know, offer you a civil remedy for negligence – to initiate a civil case (for damages) you need to consult . . . you guessed it.