SRA Transparency Rules Overv rview Context to the reforms - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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SRA Transparency Rules Overv rview Context to the reforms - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sep 14, 2022 40 likes •403 views

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

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SRA Transparency Rules

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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

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DG Legal Webinar: Transparency Rules

Natalie Darby

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Better information: the problem

Firms will do:

Competition and Markets Authority – lack of information a 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

£

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What we have done

Firms we regulate publish:

Firms will do:

We have:

Launched an online digital register about firms and solicitors Show price + description of key services Complaints procedure (including to the Legal Ombudsman and to SRA) Created a clickable logo for firms to use on their website

£

!!!

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Which services are covered?

Motoring offences

(summary offences)

Conveyancing

(residential)

Probate

(uncontested)

Immigration

(excluding asylum)

Employment tribunals

(unfair/wrongful dismissal)

Debt recovery

(up to £100,000)

Licencing applications

(business premises)

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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

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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.

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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.

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Clickable logo

What is it

A logo displayed on your website. It can

  • nly 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

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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

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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
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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

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What to check

Be clear about VAT Find the right location for your price information Complaints information

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Support available

Online guidance and FAQs Email with same business day reply Professional Ethics helpline

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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

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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)

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Privacy Policy

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Contact Us form

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Website Visitors see warnings about unsecured websites Purchase a SSL Certificate Google ranking

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Website

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Logos / Accreditations

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SRA Transparency Rules findings

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Digital Badge

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SRA number

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Complaints Handling

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Conveyancing (Residential)

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Probate

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Motoring Offences

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Im Immigration

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Employment Tribunals

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Debt Recovery

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Licensing Applications

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David Gilmore | Director

M: 07779 713 886 T: 01509 214 999 E: david@dglegal.co.uk

Thank you & goodbye