Traditionally, ombudsmen have been used by universities, government agencies and labor unions. Recently, the idea has become more popular with corporations as well. Ombudsmen also can be used in the law firm setting and, if done properly, can produce significant results. According to the International Ombudsman Association, the four principles of an organizational ombudsman are independence, neutrality, confidentiality and informality.

In the law firm context, an ombudsman is intended to complement existing grievance procedures already in place. He or she assures an additional level of anonymity and safety in raising issues to the firm’s leadership.