The solicitors' representative body, the Law Society, has rejected accusations by the Residential Institutions Redress Board that it failed to respond properly to complaints of overcharging.
The RIRB claimed the Law Society could have been more proactive by warning solicitors about deducting money from victims' compensation awards.
However, the Law Society Director General, Ken Murphy, said solicitors do not have to be warned that such behaviour is a disciplinary offence.
Mr Murphy added that the society was unaware until last week of any widespread problem.
