The SRA Transparency Rules, introduced on 6 December 2018, require firms regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to publish price and service information on their website for specified services: residential conveyancing, uncontested probate, summary-only motoring offences, employment tribunal claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal, and immigration (excluding asylum) for individuals; and debt recovery up to £100,000, defending unfair or wrongful dismissal claims, and premises licence applications for businesses. All firms must also publish their complaints procedure, including how to complain to the Legal Ombudsman and the SRA, and display the SRA digital badge.
Services that need published price information
| For individuals | For businesses |
|---|---|
| Residential conveyancing: freehold and leasehold sale or purchase, mortgages and remortgages (transfers of equity are not included) | Debt recovery up to £100,000 |
| Probate: uncontested cases where all assets are in the UK | Employment tribunals: defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal |
| Motoring offences: summary-only offences | Licensing: applications for new premises licences or variations under the Licensing Act 2003 |
| Employment tribunals: bringing claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal | |
| Immigration: excluding asylum applications |
What the price information must include
- The total cost of the service, or where that isn't possible, the average cost or range of costs.
- The basis of your charges, including any hourly rates or fixed fees, and the factors that may affect the final price.
- Whether prices include VAT and, if so, the amount or rate. Firms that aren't VAT-registered should say so.
- Exactly what the price includes, with likely disbursements and their cost, even for fixed fees.
- If price varies by how the service is delivered (for example online versus face to face), make that clear.
What the service information must include
- What is included in the published price, and services not included that a client might reasonably expect.
- Key stages of the matter and typical timescales.
- The experience and qualifications of the people who will carry out the work, and of anyone supervising them.
The information must be prominent, clearly signposted and easy to find. A pricing page linked from the main navigation or from each relevant practice-area page is the usual approach.
Rules that apply to every firm
- Complaints procedure: publish your complaints procedure on your website, including how and when a client can complain to the Legal Ombudsman and the SRA.
- SRA digital badge: displaying the SRA's clickable digital badge is mandatory, whatever your practice areas.
Turning a compliance page into a conversion page
Most firms publish the minimum in a dense table. But price is the first thing most people want to know, and the clearer firm usually wins the enquiry. It's also exactly what AI assistants look for when someone asks "how much does probate cost?" or "conveyancing fees in Leeds".
- Lead with a plain-English answer: "Our fixed fee for a freehold purchase up to £500,000 is £X plus VAT and disbursements."
- Show a worked example with disbursements itemised.
- Name the solicitors who will handle the matter, with years of qualified experience.
- Add a short FAQ: what increases the price, how long it takes, what happens next.
- Put a clear call to action next to the price: a quote form or call-back request.
Sources: Solicitors Regulation Authority, Transparency in price and service (guidance last updated 30 September 2024); The Law Society, Price and service transparency: how you can comply. This is a marketing summary, not legal or regulatory advice. Check the current SRA rules for your firm.