It has issued 439 formal warnings and imposed 36 fixed penalty fines since May 2023
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in the UK is increasing the enforcement of transparency rules to ensure firms publish clear pricing and service details, The Law Society Gazette reported.
Since May 2023, the SRA has issued 439 formal warnings and imposed 36 fixed penalty fines on firms that did not comply with its transparency requirements. The actions stemmed from the regulator’s ongoing checks of law firm websites and its efforts to ensure compliance through proactive declarations from firms.
The SRA’s transparency rules require legal firms to publish clear information about pricing and services for specific legal areas. This move is part of a broader push to enhance consumer trust by making legal costs more transparent and accessible to the public. Over 500 law firm websites have been modified to address these compliance issues.
To support firms in meeting these standards, the SRA has updated its resources, including introducing pricing templates for firms to use on their websites. Additionally, the regulator has launched a voluntary code for price comparison websites aimed at ensuring independent and reliable legal service reviews for potential consumers.
Paul Philip, chief executive of the SRA, emphasized the importance of transparency in fostering trust between law firms and clients. “Transparency is a key aspect of trust in legal services. By providing clear, accessible pricing information, firms not only comply with regulations but also empower consumers to make informed choices,” said Philip. He also highlighted the potential business benefits of transparency, particularly in enhancing client relationships.
Under the new code for comparison websites, sites must ensure they are independent from legal service providers and disclose any commercial relationships or referral arrangements. These websites must also provide accurate reviews from genuine clients or potential clients and allow law firms to respond to these reviews.
While the SRA’s current requirements focus on certain areas of law, the regulator has indicated it is open to expanding these rules. This follows the example of CILEx Regulation, which recently introduced stricter requirements for firms to display all price information on their websites.
