In December 2018 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) brought in the transparency rules. Firms were required to publish price and service information for particular services on their website. These rules were brought in by the SRA to ensure potential clients had accurate information about the firms they are considering to help them make informed choices.
The SRA has stepped up its approach and begun to enforce these rules after firms have been warned for over two years with additional advice and warning letters, with nine firms (one is appealing the decision) being maneuvered into enforcement action by the regulator already this year. The penalties range from a rebuke up to a £2,000 penalty. You can see a full list of penalties here.
The SRA reports that the recent COVID-19 lockdowns have made it more crucial than ever for law firms to provide a useful and detailed online presence. Following the transparency rules not only helps to avoid a penalty, but also demonstrates to potential clients that your services are competitive and affordable.
How can we help?
At Hawsons we have a dedicated team of solicitor accountants at our offices in Sheffield, Doncaster, and Northampton. We act for a large number of law firms across all three of our offices and offer a wide range of services which are tailored to meet their individual needs. Our legal client base consists of a multitude of firms of varying structure and size, from sole traders to limited companies and LLPs with corporate members.
More similar articles
How Will Brexit Affect the Legal Sector?
Who would have thought that as we enter the final stretch of 2020 the UK is yet to agree on a trade deal with the EU? Even though a deal has not yet been agreed the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has confirmed that some changes will definitely happen no matter...
Are Solicitors more Affordable than People Think?
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has recently conducted a survey of 3,539 users of legal services. The survey found that only 10% of consumers believed that solicitors were an unaffordable option once they had accessed information on price. This figure was...
Government Announces £3.1m Funding Plan
Government Announces £3.1m Funding Plan for Litigants in Person The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Access to Justice Foundation have worked together on a joint initiative to provide a grant worth £3.1 million to support litigants in person, (a person, company or...
Rebound Revenue for Law Firms
Revenue rebound for Law Firms Legal revenues increase by 19.5% in June The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics indicate that revenues in the UK legal industry jumped by 19.5% in June compared to May. It should be noted that May is normally among the...