SRA Transparency Rules - DG Legal

The SRA Transparency Rules apply to all firms, regardless of the categories of law provided. The rules require firms to display on their website a full complaints procedure, prices and descriptions of a select range of legal services, the SRA Digital Badge and the firm’s SRA number. If a firm does not have a website; this information must be readily available upon request in another format.

The SRA regularly conduct firm website checks and can take enforcement action against non-compliant firms. Between May 2023 and September 2024, the SRA issued 439 official warnings and 36 fixed penalty fines for transparency rule breaches.

SRA Digital Badge and SRA ID

The SRA Digital Badge and the firm’s SRA ID must be shown in a prominent place on the website. The badge is clickable, opening a new webpage to verify that the firm is regulated by the SRA and therefore clients are afforded protections against poor service or loss of a client’s money. The badge is not an image file, but a bespoke snippet of software code made available by the SRA to firms who have registered their website through mySRA. The badge must be at the minimum size (or larger) set by the SRA of 275px by 163px.

Complaints Procedure

All firms must publish information about their complaints handling procedure, including details about the criteria for making a complaint to the Legal Ombudsman and the SRA. Stating that the firm’s full procedure is ‘available upon request’ is not sufficient. The complaints handling procedure must be published in full, including step-by-step guidance with specified timescales regarding how to complain and the contact details of the staff member responsible for complaints handling. The procedure must be easy to locate, such as through a link in the website footer.

Pricing and Service Information

The SRA’s Transparency Rules require firms to display prices and service information for the following areas:

·        Conveyancing (residential) including: 

o    freehold sale or purchases 

o   leasehold sales or purchases 

o   mortgages or re-mortgages 

·        Probate (uncontested and relating to UK assets) including: 

o   obtaining grant of probate 

o   assistance with the collection and distribution of assets 

·        Motoring offences (summary offences at the Magistrates Court dealt with at a single hearing) 

·        Immigration (excluding asylum) 

o   preparation and submission of immigration applications 

o   provision of advice and representation at the First-Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in relation to appeals against Home Office visa or immigration decisions 

·        Employment Tribunals 

o   bringing of claims against an employer for unfair or wrongful dismissal 

o   employment advice to employers in relation to defending claims before the Employment Tribunal brought by an employee for unfair or wrongful dismissal  

·        Debt recovery (up to the value of £100,000)  

·        Licensing applications for business premises.

These rules do not apply to publicly funded work.

For each of the areas of law offered, firms must publish

·        typical cost of the service, including the rate and amount of VAT

·        basis of charging (fixed fee, hourly rate)

·        possible disbursements, including an estimated cost for each plus rate and amount of VAT, if applicable

·        information about the services included in the quoted price

·        typical key stages of the matter

·        typical timescales for each key stage

·        details of any services not included in the price

·        experience and qualifications of staff members carrying out the work in that area of law and their supervisors.

UK General Data Protection Regulation & Data Protection Act

In addition to the SRA’s transparency rules, firms are expected to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) & the Data Protection Act 2018. You must publish a privacy policy on your website explaining how you treat personal data. A shorter privacy notice should also be included near any contact form or enquiry box situated on your website where consumers can input data.

Free Website Check

It’s easier and cheaper to ensure the rules are met before the SRA arrive at your door. Please contact us by email, consultants@dglegal.co.uk, if you would appreciate a free check of your website.