CILEx Regulation introduced changes to ease transparency for consumers
CILEx Regulation (CRL), the independent regulator for members and firms associated with the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) in England and Wales, has introduced a major change in transparency requirements for law firms.
Following approval from the Legal Services Board, new rules will now require these firms to publish comprehensive price and service information for all legal services offered to consumers and small businesses.
Under the new regulations, around 60 law firms governed by CRL must display pricing information in a "prominent, clear, and accessible format" on their websites. This is an expansion of existing requirements, which previously only applied to specific areas such as conveyancing, probate, and immigration services.
The firms must also disclose details about the staff delivering services, which will give consumers and small businesses a fuller understanding of what they are paying for.
John Barwick, chief executive of CRL, stated that this rule change will benefit consumers by offering greater transparency and making it easier for them to compare legal services. “A clear and uniform presentation of key information across provider websites will help consumers and small businesses to make an informed decision when selecting a legal services provider,” Barwick said, adding that the new rules have the backing of the firms regulated by CRL.
The Law Society Gazette reported that the initiative sets CRL apart from other legal regulators, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), which only mandates the publication of pricing information for specific services, such as conveyancing, certain immigration services, and claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal in employment tribunals. The CRL’s new rules cover all legal services, making it the first regulator to take such comprehensive steps toward full transparency.
The push for greater transparency in legal services follows concerns raised by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in 2016, which found that the legal services market was not working well for individual consumers and small businesses. A 2020 review found that progress had been made but with limited impact. One key issue has been that consumers struggle to make informed decisions due to a lack of clear price and service quality information.
With CRL’s new rules now in effect, it is expected that consumers and small businesses will have access to better information, ultimately improving their ability to select legal services based on cost, quality, and the scope of services offered.
