How to write a statement

I had to write statements and complaints without having any examples or guidance how to do this. It made my life way more difficult and caused a lot of necessary stress. Here is a few key important lessons I learned.

Steps for a complaint

In essence a complaint is a form of a statement where you put an emphasis on someone's wrong doing. Some of the steps listed below apply more to a complaint than a statement as it may be obvious for the statement, while this data needs to be researched for complaint. However, it makes sense to include this information into both.

1. Identify where to send complaint or statement. Address the organisation you contacting in your document.
2. Check for forms and templates. Often there will be predefined forms how to fill in the data.
3. Be mindful of potential technical issues. For example support might not be available on weekends. If you can, do not leave it for the last day.
4. Rely on facts as much as you can.
5. Provide evidence if you can or ways to get.
6. Tell full story even if you can not back it by evidence.
7. Use legal (neutral) language. State the misconduct you are complaining clearly. The problems you are complaining about may cause strong emotions. Have someone to check what you wrote. Too emotional language might cloud some facts as emotions, something you would like to avoid. May be easier said than done.
8. Do not dial down accusations. Almost always organisation responding to your complaint/statement may only downgrade your accusations. So, if you downgraded to be polite appropriate response will not be considered.
9. Provide basis for all your accusations. Ideally backed by hard evidence, but at lease by reliable reasoning.
10. Group your document into logical manageable sections.
11. Consider numbering your statements. It makes much easier to reference them later.
12. Provide executive summary at the start.
13. Highlight your key points at the end.

Formatting a statement

I follow this structure if there is no structure given then follow it.

Title

As for any document I like title to tell exactly what document you have. Here is an example: "2023-04-26 Dr Alfonsas Stonis further statement".

1. Date
2. Name
3. Purpose/content

My examples

Statements: 3 times for my personal injury claim and 2 while seeking justice for my mom.

Complaints:

Examples

These are examples of statements and complaints prepared in relation to personal injury claims, legal representation, and complaints to regulatory bodies.

Statements

Personal injury statements

• 2019-04-29 Alfonsas Stonis – Original Statement
• 2019-04-29 Juste Stoniene – Original Statement
• 2022-06-23 Juste Stoniene – Further Statement
• 2022-06-27 Alfonsas Stonis – Further Statement
• 2023-03-20 Juste Stoniene – Gratuitous Past and Future Care Statement
• 2023-04-26 Alfonsas Stonis – Further Statement

Supporting witness statements

The following statements are listed in the documentation of the PIC submission:

• 2023-04-20 Karin Rosen – Signed Statement
• 2023-04-21 Karl Nallin – Confirmation of Work
• 2023-04-23 Vygandas Kasiulevicius – Witness Statement

Complaints

Complaints to the Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner (OLSC)

• Complaint about solicitor Moya de Luca-Leonard
• Complaint about barrister Michelle Campbell
• Complaint about solicitor Peter James Livers – Misrepresentation
• 2024-04-14 Complaint about solicitor Timothy Ceballos

Complaints to other authorities

• 2026-02-08 Complaint to the NSW Ombudsman – Cover Letter

References

• https://www.aukstadvaris.lt/kaip-rasyti-pareiskima-policijai-ka-butina-nurodyti/
• https://www.nukentejusiems.lt/kaip-pranesti-ir-gauti-pagalba/
• https://bizpro.techinfus.com/lt/new-kak-napisat-zayavlenie-v-policiyu-sovety-yurista.html
• https://www.nukentejusiems.lt/iki18/kaip-pranesti-ir-gauti-pagalba/kaip-pranesti-apie-nusikaltima/