SRA Transparency Rules
Overv rview Context to the reforms Overview of the rules Approach to enforcement Common pitfalls and tips to help compliance Support Available GDPR – Privacy Notices, Contact Us forms & Secure websites Survey of 422 law firms websites for compliance against the SRA’s rules Questions please to admin@dglegal.co.uk
DG Legal Webinar: Transparency Rules Natalie Darby
Better information: the problem Competition and Markets Authority – lack of information a Firms will do: problem for public and small businesses People want to shop around – but only 1/5 firms were £ publishing price information Not just price – want range of information to inform choices
What we have done Firms we regulate publish: £ Firms will do: Complaints procedure (including to Show price + description of the Legal Ombudsman and to SRA) key services We have: !!! Created a clickable logo for firms Launched an online digital to use on their website register about firms and solicitors
Which services are covered? Immigration Conveyancing Probate Motoring offences (excluding asylum) (residential) (uncontested) (summary offences) Debt recovery Licencing applications Employment tribunals (up to £100,000) (business premises) (unfair/wrongful dismissal)
Benefits for firms Opportunity to attract new clients as more people use legal services for the first time and shop around Manage client cost expectations & reduce complaints Opportunities for market differentiation: standards and regulatory protections
Price: what do you need to do You must publish*: Clear and accessible cost information in a prominent place for certain services: total cost, average cost or range Basis for costs - including hourly rates, or fixed fees Experience and qualification of anyone carrying out that work Details of any disbursements Whether services attract VAT and the rate Details of services: timescales, key stages, services that might be additional * If you don’t have a website, this information must be readily available upon request in another format. People should not be required to provide detailed information before they can obtain it.
Complaints: what you need to do You must publish*: Publish your complaints handling process on your website Publish details about how to complain to us Publish details about how to complain to the Legal Ombudsman * If you don’t have a website, this information must be readily available upon request in another format. People should not be required to provide detailed information before they can obtain it.
Clickable logo What is it A logo displayed on your website. It can only be used by firms we regulate It will tell the public that the firm is regulated by us, has met our high standards and that protections apply It can be clicked and will then display information about the protections that come when using a regulated firm Voluntary from December 2018
Enforcement Take steps to comply Challenges for some firms often beyond their control Proportionate and fair approach taking into account mitigating and aggravating factors Range of tools to monitor compliance
Areas of non- compliance The most common areas of non-compliance were a failure to: • publish required complaints information • specify VAT applied to costs and disbursements • display information on key stages and/or timescales • provide a description or costs of likely disbursements
What to check Always include the charging basis for your prices Describe the credentials of people who carry out the legal work Don't forget your disbursements
What to check Be clear about VAT Find the right location for your price information Complaints information
Support available Online guidance and FAQs Email with same business day reply Professional Ethics helpline
Compliance with the SRA Transparency Rules Survey of 422 websites of SRA Regulated Firms – May 2020 This showed a mixed picture and understanding of the rules
Privacy Notices GDPR / Data Protection Act expects firms to protect personal data A privacy notice explains how personal data is treated A detailed privacy notice should be in a prominent place on the website A shorter version or a link to the detailed version should be on the Contact Us form page (if you have one)
Privacy Policy
Contact Us form
Website Visitors see warnings about unsecured websites Purchase a SSL Certificate Google ranking
Website
Logos / Accreditations
SRA Transparency Rules findings
Digital Badge
SRA number
Complaints Handling
Conveyancing (Residential)
Probate
Motoring Offences
Im Immigration
Employment Tribunals
Debt Recovery
Licensing Applications
Thank you & goodbye David Gilmore | Director M: 07779 713 886 T: 01509 214 999 E: david@dglegal.co.uk
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