SRA Update

SRA steps up its consumer advice

SRA Update Issue 24 – May 2012

We are stepping up our game by improving the advice we are giving consumers of legal services.

Over the past year we have taken a number of initiatives to help clients understand what to expect when they choose a legal services provider as well as our role as a regulator.

Consumers have little knowledge of their rights

A survey we carried out in 2011 revealed that the average man or woman in the street has little knowledge of their rights when consulting a lawyer. (See our report Consumer attitudes towards the purchase of legal services).

Free advice online

Consumers can now find information and advice on our website:

• Videos describing different scenarios (e.g. how to spot a bogus solicitor and when to contact the Legal Ombudsman)
• A downloadable leaflet, What to expect when you use a solicitor, a shortened simplified version of the leaflet, and translations into the 10 most frequently used languages
• Frequently refreshed alerts to information in the public’s interest (e.g. bogus firms, high profile disciplinary actions such as closures and prosecutions)
• A legal jargon-buster

Legal choices, silent process: Raising awareness of deaf clients' needs

A recent joint survey we carried out with Action on Hearing Loss and the Legal Services Consumer Panel revealed that many lawyers do not understand deaf clients' needs. We are working with a number of bodies representing disabled people to find out how services could be improved to increase accessibility.

Download the report: Legal choices, silent process (PDF 69 pages, 951K)

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