Research by Legal Futures online magazine finds that few law firms are complying with the latest price and transparency requirements.
What transparency? Only 28% of websites show prices - Legal Futures
Under the new rules, all regulated law firms are, from early December, required to proactively publish information on prices they charge and what these include, across a number of common services:
- For members of the public: conveyancing, probate, motoring offences, employment tribunals (claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal) and immigration (excluding asylum).
- For small businesses: debt recovery (up to £100k), employment tribunals (defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal) and licensing applications for business premises.
In addition to prices, firms must also outline typical timescales for the quoted services and provide details of the experience and qualifications of staff who work in these areas.
The required information must be published in a prominent location on a firm's website, which is accessible, clearly signposted and easy for visitors to find. For those without a website, the information must be immediately available in any format for any member of the public who requests it.