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Download our Start-up GuideSRA Law Firm Website Crackdown
There have been multiple reports in the legal press that the SRA continue their crackdown on law firms that don’t comply with the SRA Transparency Rules.
Legal Futures have reported that as many as 8,000 UK law firms received letters from the SRA requiring the Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) to declare whether their law firm’s website is compliant with the rules and includes the SRA clickable logo, also known as the digital badge.
The law firms have been given 18 days to sign and return the letter to the SRA.
Earlier reports state that the SRA has been sanctioning law firms failing to adhere to the rules. The firms are therefore at risk of being fined by the SRA if they are not compliant.
There are indications that the random checks of UK law firm websites will continue.
What are the SRA Law Firm Website Transparency Rules?
The Transparency Rules were first introduced on 6th December 2018. They set out the information law firms and individuals providing services to the public from outside of legal practices are required to make available to their clients and prospects.
The rules include costs information, complaints information, publication, and regulatory information.
Our Team at Intellistart has put together a guide to the SRA Transparency Rules and GDPR- compliance. Click the button below to download it for free.
Download our guideWhat is the purpose of the SRA Transparency Rules?
According to the SRA, the rules have been introduced in ensure clients have accurate and relevant information about a solicitor or firm they are considering to appoint.
The aim is also to help the general public and SMEs make informed choices and improve competition in the legal market.
Before you sign the letter from the SRA
If you receive the letter, don’t sign it straight away. Check your website first. This is especially if you employed a generic marketing agency or a freelancer to design your website. They were most likely unaware of the rules and regulations surrounding the legal industry.
If your law firm’s website is not compliant and you sign the letter, you will be providing false information to the SRA and this could result in sanctions – read more about this here.
So, make sure that your website is fully compliant first; otherwise, you could receive a hefty fine from the SRA.
The SRA Transparency Rules apply to a few areas of your website. And don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you only need to follow the rules if you fall into the scope of publishing your prices!
All law firms, regardless of the area they specialise in, MUST publish their:
- SRA number,
- information about complaints handling
- and display the SRA digital badge.
The SRA’s Transparency Rules state that it is mandatory to display prices and service information if you publish that you work in any of the following areas:
- Conveyancing (residential)
- Probate (uncontested)
- Motoring offences (summary offences)
- Immigration (excluding asylum)
- Employment tribunals (unfair/wrongful dismissal)
- Debt recovery (up to £100,000)
- Licensing applications (business premises).
Publicly-funded work is the only exception.
Recent SRA Transparency Rules Fines
The following SRA Transparency Rules Fines from 2020 has been published and are available on the SRA’s recent decisions.
Firms below have failed in part or in full to publish mandatory details about costs, its complaints procedure, to display the SRA Digital Badge on its website.
| Decision Date | Firm Name | Fine | Costs |
| 16/11/2021 | ANB Law (ANB Law) | £1,000.00 | £300.00 |
| 30/09/2021 | AKL Solicitors Ltd | £1,200.00 | £600.00 |
| 28/07/2021 | Grace Springs Solicitors (Grace Springs Solicitors) | £2,000.00 | £1,350.00 |
| 25/09/2020 | AWH Legal Limited (AWH Legal Limited) | £2,000.00 | £300.00 |
| 13/08/2020 | Sal & Co Solicitors | £1,000.00 | £300.00 |
| 13/08/2020 | Wadsworths Solicitors Ltd (Wadsworths Solicitors Ltd) | £750.00 | £600.00 |
| 24/07/2020 | Idris & Co Solicitors | £2,000.00 | £300.00 |
| 23/07/2020 | Lancasters | £2,000.00 | £300.00 |
| 22/07/2020 | ALM LAW LIMITED | £1,000.00 | £300.00 |
How can I make my law firm website compliant?
The most cost-efficient option for your law firm is to work through the requirements yourself. Unfortunately, the SRA doesn’t publish any checklist to help you but they do have some free templates. Bear in mind that this is the most time-consuming option and the templates cover only part of the requirement for publishing prices. You will therefore need to piece the different parts together.
You could also hire a legal marketing company (partnered with a legal compliance and insurance firm) to do the work for you. Intellistart continues to offer free basic site audits and can arrange for a full SRA-compliance site audit if requested. If you wish to get an audit, please email us at hello@intellistart.co.uk or complete our contact form.
Please note, however, that there have been cases where the SRA has taken issue with its own wordings when law firms used them. We, therefore, cannot guarantee that the SRA will not return to your firm with some comments and requests for small amendments. Should this happen and you receive another letter from the SRA regarding your compliance, Intellistart will sort things out for you for free.
Website Compliance Audits
Intellistart has been offering website audits since the SRA Transparency Rules crackdown started earlier this year. All of our retainer clients will have had their websites audited and made compliant within the past few months in order to save them any unnecessary stress.
If your law firm has already had a thorough check, it is best to double-check all is up to date and making the declaration to the SRA.
If this is the first time you are hearing about the SRA Transparency rules or simply were too busy to check your law firm’s website, it is best to do it as soon as you can because once you receive your letter, you will have limited time to make things right.
Download our guide to the SRA Transparency Rules below. You can also find more information on the SRA’s website.
Download our guideLooking for expert help?
If you are looking for someone to help you with ensuring your law firm’s website is compliant, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Download our guide to SRA- and GDPR-compliance here to learn more about the Transparency Rules and GDPR rules.
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