Writrten and recorded by Katie Jackson, Director, Honne Ltd.
Hello, I'm case Jackson. Welcome, Teoh. Get up now on price transparency We're talking today about the new price. Transparency requirements are introduced into 7 2018 by the solicitor's regulation Authority on the Council for no licence convinces today s webinar is going to be talking about the context of those new rules that Corinne enforce the new rules itself and changes that this is made to but yes, away handbook ZOC humbled. And we're gonna be looking at the guidance as well in relation to those it's important. But this point webinar So talk about this webinar is suitable for this has been always suitable for any compliance officers that might be looking at how the phone comply with requirements. If you're reviewing and updating your common information, you might find this useful. If you're reviewing updating your website also, you might find this useful and we have pictures webinar on intermediate level. So it is suitable for a range of people who are interested in the new requirements. It does assume a certain level of knowledge about that's already hamburger accountable License Conveyances handbook as well. It may not be suitable for anybody who's just starting out their components, and he needs to familiarise themselves a little bit more with before. Start doing this Peter book, you need to know, have understanding that there's always a book on seriously Handbook exists on the board content of that on the relationship between regulators and the regulated community. However, anything beyond that was never know should be suitable for you. If your partner in a law firm watching is Never know, you might want to think about strategically how you're going to use price transparency on progress awareness with consumers and how you're going to advertise your phone on how you can use that to best promote from as eating. The best way of thinking about this This woman really is focused on the requirements proposed transparency and isn't necessarily going into the strategic level of detail about how where to advertise your business on what the strategic implications are in relation to that on her that might affect you and your competitors. You need to remember if you're watching this weapon on that level within your firm, that strategic willing from that this sits in a context off additional reforms for us away off, looking to the future where firms can restructure themselves in different ways and known, nor firms will be able to recruit solicitors in order to offer legal services provided they're not doing work that's been approved by the Legal Services Board. Now it should be coming in in 2018 subject to Brexit. So there are lots of different strategic implications at the moment about the economics of the legal services market on this is one aspect of that. In addition to that, if you're a coffer, you're watching this weapon again. We're looking purely at the rules in relation to that. They might be implications for how you handle climb money in relation to the rules of the S. A way to place on again. This weapon doesn't go into that level of detail, But it's something that if you were level within the organization, you might want to think about. So, for example, is your law firm taking that money at the beginning of the transaction? Can you guarantee that that sits within the price transparency? You've got their car. Do you have that for client authority, full client knowledge and four client consent? What? Taking money for what? Your belly calling for a conclusion of the matter. So do you think about the way in which your finance procedures are set up on the way in which you're from Handel's planet Money? What does with my money to make sure you've got that for consent, dealing with things in that situation? There is an important piece for the coffee risk. Those peace under planning consent, please, to be thinking alongside this. And so there are important consequences to think about for the coffee when dealing with price transparency, making sure that clients are where and it goes beyond what's in the rules more into the spirit of what the competition and markets authority and the regulators are trying to achieve with voice transparency. So if you were the coffa and firm or your coat, when you have a can you think about how you're dealing with that compliant consent for handling client money? What information is being provided to the plant when you're taking those buns within the transaction on what, your game with them, how you're dealing with that situation on that strays into dealing with aspects of serious breach of material breach, which s away, have been dealing with a number of years and which is also changing into looking to the future. There been some new consultations and that kind of thing. So there's lots to say about the implications of first transparency. Andi, I, um, just aware that this webinar covers price transparency, very rich and intermediate level. So we're gonna look really at the rules, having some knowledge and awareness that they, you know, this is part of a wider set of balls on some of the changes that, yes, always making around that we're not necessarily going to go into that strategic piece and additional piece of how the Knicks into looking to the future. We're not necessarily going to go into that level of detail of thinking about whether anything could constitute serious breach of material breach. Clients weren't informed correctly. And we're also gonna go into thinking about looking at whether or not there are implications with coffee about when to take flight money join transaction, for example, if a bill to be paid post drugs. Actually, it doesn't say that in the walls, but there could be implications in the long term around there at some point. Is there as to the strategic aspects. And if you're walled senior within the organization, though, in which this is an intermediate level webinar on. I wanted to really start you on that path to thinking about what this could go. So there are important strategic requirements, and I do want you to think about those but this weaponized looking at this very much room and intermediate, so focusing on those that detailed bulls in order to provide you with that springboard or platform in order. Teoh taking further steps yourself toe, making those strategic decisions or perhaps looking and thinking about additional ways in which you can compare notes with firms. Find out what people do. I'm taking that step to save. I now have implemented those walls were actually, does it mean in terms of the spirit of the bulls? Do we as a family to go any further? We were happy with what we're doing. So to accompany this webinar, there are some written notes on. There's also a set of slides as well. Within the written notes. At the end of the notes, you'll find quays, which you can use to evidence you're learning for CPD on. In addition to that That's, um, start questions, which we're gonna have looking in a minute to make this a little bit more interactive as a weapon on the notes. That company this course give that little bit extra detail on Britain a compliment to course so that you can take that way with you. Um, we've tried to supply the s always guidance, which sits alongside this Under CEO sees guidance, which sits alongside. This is part there's no on. In addition to that, some ideas on further reading further resources that you might find interesting as well, people only lots of different ways. And so to think about Tiu have that additional support for yourself to say this is what way I'm doing. I'm taking forward at the moment is, um, you know is important. Either you can get something there to take away on, sit and be quiet if that's more likely to be a way for you to take in the information if you want to. So let's have a think I'm just going to read from side now to think about what we're going to cover in today's WEBINAR. First I'm gonna cover is the background to price transparency then we're going to think about as part of that. I think about the Competition and Markets Authority report which looked up how competition was working in the legal services sector on what's happening in respect of that. And this is something that's been going on for for quite a long time, even before that where competition has been effective within legal services. What's up? Welcome to me. We're going to Then look at the detail off. There's always transparency rules which come in as a result of the strangest on what? Yes Away? Yes. Always own research on what? Not showing. We're going to have a look at the s always transparency. Guidance now can't reproduce that four as part of the slides and me talking because it yes, I have produced extensive guidance to support what is a relatively small set of rules. So the s always rules are in themselves quite clear about what they want, I think quite straightforward. But then if you read the guidance has an incredible amount of detail about what they expect from each of the different categories who are affected on the guidance is so extensive, you know, it's important to take the time to get your head around that, um the seriously have done something similar, so made relatively minor changes to their rules, but again have produced and fairly informed guidance about what they want people to do. Onda again the guidance that companies that see what we've done is reproduced at the end of these notes. In addition, that's well, so I've done a summary of what's there went pointing you out and sign posting you to go and have a look so you can have a listen on. Have a watch of this weapon on that sort of cement that in your mind take their learning steps, but then go away and have a look at that guidance in order to support what you've done. Any website. What you're trying to do in trying to achieve there is as upset, separate notes and for guidance that companies and this webinar on. And then we've got that question in for CPD purposes. Andi, just at this point in time just to say that there are as upset those additional implications that might come in time, we are in a position with this away in COC have introduced their changes to their rooms on their guidance relatively quickly. So, for example, the CFC only finished consorted on these walls in June, July at the end of June. I think it will. So they published and, you know, concluded their consultation period at the end of June. And now the walls have been introduced and there will be changes to people's websites changes to the way in which providing client information that's been published and introduced with a relatively short leading time. So the leading time for firms to comply with these sets of walls has been shortened quite considerably from what you might normally expect on DSO. I think that there is, you know, just in speaking to the people, compliant sector hearing yourself. But they had to say on the seriously do your best to comply with where we are at the moment and make those steps in those changes and then, you know, make sure you're finessing that and put in a place with that lead in time you need in order to support within your firm to make sure we comply with the spirit of the rules, and it might take time to make those additional decisions. Once you got past that tick box compliance element to make sure you actually going out there and say Do we need to support this further with verbal information? We're providing to apply what other ways in which we do this in in order to support information we're providing. So there is a I think, recognition so even compliant sector that this has been done incredibly put. A lot of firms, however, will be complying with divorce as they stand. So a lot of conveyances, for example, already published prices on their website. Some people use price comparison websites already. Some people have different ways of going out to clients marketing their services to them, sometimes to third parties. Um, this should also be acknowledged as well as as part of something that could be taken to be price transparency. There are specific requirements there if you're using so party websites and what that looks like on their price transparency in respect, that so there are different ways of going about this, you know about publishing your information, more talk about the requirements that sit behind that. But a lot of people are already compliant in the way that they're publishing vice information. I think on in addition to that, you know, there's that additional element of supportive like that coming from the S away on the COC to say this is the detailed guidance we want you to comply with and in some cases there. So we have published form templates about what they want people to do. You have a look at that later, so that also helps. You can talk to copy and paste that across into a website. If you can do that or provide something similar, gives you that opportunity to use those very similar ways of presenting the information to ensure that you're compliant. Um so there is no additional level of support that's being provided by the way and sale see around this. But there is and I think is being very short needing time on. But we think some firms are already going to be compliant in respect of that. So let's start by having a look at some starter questions. So just an exercise for compliments to see what you already know, and then we're going to give the answers to those start questions as we go along. So I'm just going to give you a couple of minutes now. Have a look at their slide with the start. Questions on Does not test. You don't have to necessarily recorded anywhere but just having a content. See what you think, and then we'll talk about the answers as we go along. Receive. The answer is in a couple of minutes time and if you slides time. So which of the following groups of people need Teoh adhere to new price transparency requirements on then under saying, you know, note A which apply A. That, as I said there could be more than one answer is that I see in this away regulated conveyances solicitors exclusively conducting debt recovery work above £250,000. Solicitors conducting mergers and acquisitions work solicitors conducting legal aid. Work to list is conducting immigration applications. So which of those? So have I think about that? What's in the news this away? Seriously price transparency, rules And then the next part question. Do you have any other days about? Although it's called price transparency, what else is included in the new requirements that goes beyond the physical amount of money that you would have to pay for this transaction. Is there anything else that s away on the sale? See, of acquiring to provide to the client. So I hope you had the opportunity to have a look and have a think about what? The s l. A. And see how they said about price transparency over requirements there. And have a look at the first part of that start question as to who this actually applies to on when you might need to think about price transparency, um, and how it might effect. So there's some different answers. Teoh those questions. They're going to have a look now in detail about why it's been introduced. Who could be affected on what the walls actually saying, What the guidance is as well around that. So it's important. Think about it, but also important to think about it possibly a little bit creatively as well as hopefully. Those start questions will demonstrate when we're going through, so give you those answers as we go through. So the new rules from this away on the seriously come intervals in December 2018. So the requirements are set out in this set of wars. And then there's additional supporting guidance. Well, there was themselves, as I've said, quite simple and straightforward from both Yes, away on the CLC. If they're supporting going that you need to have a in order to say, you know, we've compiled with what he s away have said as a distinction and the difficulty in there What status does that guidance have? What does that look like? Well, this is just guidance that what yes I have said previously, is that you have to be up to justify when you departed from the guidance. So you're still with the bulls. So if you don't want to do it in the way that yes, I have said in the guidance that's probably up to you. We do have a concern and make sure that you're still complying with what Yes, away in terms of the walls are saying and in terms of what they're getting in terms of this spirit of what they put down on paper is while making sure that you're being transparent with your client on your being transparent in terms of meeting the client's requirements, getting their consent for what you're doing with their transaction, how much it's going to cost them one of the questions we had installed. Question there. Waas. What are the implications for other things over them? Handing over your money? Um, so what are the requirements that being covered on the S away under sail? See, I've also requiring toe have a think about the service that's being provided to the client. So giving kind and outline of what they're painful on what they should expect within the terms of their hand over their money. What does that actually buy them? How long will it take them? So in terms of conveyancing transaction, for example, what does that look like in terms of the length of time? What can they expect in what circumstances will the Phoebe higher on DSO? They give some examples of that in the guidance on the examples of where they expect the servicing to be pitched. What they expect that looked like because to Lister's could interpret this in lots of different ways. Okay, so we're buying, astounded transaction on what does that look like? I'll be buying standing, you know, a product that can be in some way commoditized. And when does it go outside of the norm? on what you know, what would increase the fear in those circumstances. How does that work and look for the client? There are implications in terms off complaints as well. So you do. They have a right to complaint on what we dressed that they have. So there's information that needs to be provided, both in terms of the internal complaints procedure. They referrals that being made to believe in on Weizman. What circumstances would there be a requirement to go to the solicitor's regulation authority? So, for example, if there was concerned about misconduct on in what circumstances would there be the right to go to make an insurance claim? Now that could be quite complicated. There's no relationship there with Leo, but further information does need to be provided. We'll talk about that a little bit later about the dress for consumers. And so there are different remedies that there. You'll also be aware that in certain circumstances well, people have the right to challenge a bill there sister has provided on do you know? So there's got lots of different remedies that the crime in terms off redress. If there's a problem or situation that they need to resolve where they can go for further information, guidance and support. So basic information about this needs to be provided alongside basic information about cost on what the client is buying on what kind of service that by what does that look like? What does that mean for them? How are they going to? I understand that now, for those people who are regulated by the way, this is going to go further than what was in the handbook performs that have been approved by the B recently and looking to the future. So just to be aware that this new set of sits alongside that on his part of that new handbook and so clarifies what people do need to be doing, do you need to be providing on that? Guidance is the first example. We've seen a kind of post looking to the future set of guidance. So the level of specificity that the S L a. Going into there is quite a lot of detail for what they want to see solicitors firms provided, and that really is because people could have pitched their price at different levels. Consumers may have thought that I'm comparing the same thing when really they weren't they weren't preparing apples with apples, you know, comparing two different transactions. I'm completely differently. They might have thought they were getting a cheaper price, but actually there are only paid for half the transaction, for example, and it's not clear what being purchased. And so the level of guidance is being put forward. Their four minutes away from the secrecy is fairly specific guest of what they want to see included on how that's going forward. So it's important you think about our about how these are being presented on what the Salerno, in effect trying to say with their going down the CMC in terms of we're going to make this a fairly standard toys set a transaction. And then beyond that, there was an additional charge forward. Andi might drop our girls. I certainly would, because that's what I used to do. Draw parallels with what happened with legal aid. I don't know if you're watching this weapon on used to be involved in any legally aided work. Remember that there were certain aspects of a transaction that fell within a certain set of boundaries on that provided a standardized parts for that and anything else could be charged separately, so you might see a similar kind of raging being introduced. So what's the context that this six in well, the first thing is about continuing changes to open a legal services market? Andi just put this into some kind of context has been a lot of change aimed at opening of the legal services market on trying to achieve that balance, like between having competition within the professions. On also having some aspect off, um, awareness for consumers, rights for consumers. Access fel consumers to redress and justice within the legal services sector. And so this started back in the 19 seventies 19 eighties introduction last conveyances. That hasn't been the success that needed to be a so. As a result of that, there was the committee review, which led to the introduction of a BS and Legal Services Act and that hasn't you know in the Big Bang that many people expected? And that led to the interruption of alternative business structures. That hasn't been the Big Brown and led to the investment in legal services market than many people expected. There were still definitely barriers to entry and exit in the legal, sexist mark, you have to invest quite a lot in order to employ sinister. You have Teoh take those steps to say we're going Teoh, employ a solicitor. We're going to have to be regulated by the Sisters Regulation Authority or Count Blessings Conveniences, one of the other regulators, in order to room employ somebody with a reserve tied to a specific title in order to carry out reserved work. Now, as a result of that, it's quite hard to put in place those steps to be regulated. The new introduction of looking to the future is taking away some of those barriers to entry and exit. So you're not going to have that make that same level of investment that people were making previously in order to be regulated. So you have to employ sinister acting as a solicitor, um, as always, there not conducting reserved work, and you don't need to go food thea application process that put any place, all of those different requirements. You have to go through that moment. Although there is a common from this, I want to have some form of systems in place in order to employees, is to directly So you know, you could be Somebody sat in front of house there next to the glasses, providing a worldwide in service and carrying the title solicitor. There are challenges around that. Obviously, you know whether people will still have their confidentiality respected in the same way whether people will be up to maintain undertakings in the same way. If they are somebody that's employed on the job and then they could just be exact the next day, you know, how are they going to continue to comply with those obligations that they might have been a regulator basis? So there are complexities around that on what that might look like and how that might play out for an individual. He was he was employed, but also for a company. He was undertaking that work. They're different complexities around that that need to be thought through, carefully considered if you're going to go down that road. But it's part and parcel off an attempt to open up the legal services market and make it more competitive. They were mostly which we're going to look at in a bit more detail in a minute. Suggested on it has been suggested by the studies in the past that small businesses consumers don't always get uneven of us that they need because of the price that's being charged for legal advice on that. This price is putting people off. They consider this a list to be an expensive option on. They won't necessarily go used solicitor because they'll have to pay quite a large amount of money for digital. There is the perception that that's the case on the legal services market isn't serving those consumers in the way that it should be? We also need to take a step to think about position of regulators when dealing with when dealing with these talks, questions about transparency and the other forms that being put in as well. So I think a couple of parliamentary sessions ago, Michael Go said that they would be changing the parliament to a single legal regulated. There was a paper called Legislative Options beyond the Legal Services Act that set out various different options that regulators could go through, and this could see we'll change on the part of the regulators. And so the merger potentially of the professions, the merger on all the categorization of the professions in different ways of illegal various different legal regulators and what that means, whether this will be competitive or non competitive, I don't know. So there are different situations of foot, and obviously that's what's just happened in Scotland. So there's been a recommendation that there will be a single legal regulator in Scotland covering all the different parts of the legal profession. So there's lots of different political aspects of this foot at the moment, and the policy should be seen in the context and taken in that context that there are. There is the intent to open legal services market away from necessarily reserve titles or current structures that sit around at the moment, which aren't necessarily making the legal services market competitive apparently. But there are also other factors as well. There are other attempts being made like this price transparency. You know what it it toe? Open it up. There could therefore be no significant change in the medium term. Abound who you are regulated by what sets of all you have to comply with. So if you are thinking about this from a longer term perspective, do do put that aspect of it do you know? Do you think about it in that context? So the competition and markets authority is today is the next thing. We're gonna have a think about that. I set the wheels in motion for where we are with price transparency on what they looked at. WAAS the information it was being provided to consumers on a number of different legal services websites on what the level of detail was there on, in which way consumers went about selecting their choice of legal services provider from what they found from their study was only 17% off. Law firms were providing information about voice on their website. On that 22% of people compare services on offer before appointing a lawyer. So just vote up in phone around a few people or compare on website before deciding who to appoint on how to go about that. What's included in the price? What the level of services, those kinds of things so their argument wants in order to improve competition On deal with that situation, they wanted to provide more information to consumers to make the market more competitive and give consumers and more empowered choice when selecting condom on appointing a sinister, hopefully to provide more information about the kinds of things that evolved into everyday and basic transactions. There is also the Legal Legal Choices website, which that's up more information for consumers about choices on offer, what is involved in basic transactions on what kinds of services that they can expect from providers, as well as providing some information about services only from different providers. And they also wanted the regulators to get more involved in facilitating and working with price comparison websites. There was additional recommendations around looking at feedback platforms, our service on reviews that could be placed on line or in different ways. So consumers have an idea about the kinds of service that they're going to get, what that looks like for them, or whether this would or would not be a suitable service for them on whether or not existing with dress games, such the legal ombudsman should be extended further to cover unauthorized providers. So people who are regulated but still operating within the legal services sector on there is a large number of those people don't always realize, but there are a large number of people appointed with presents the sector and are regulated. For example, will writers and Mackenzie friends, for example. So following on from the Competition and Markets Authority is today the s away did their own study into what's happening in the vehicle services market on how people were selecting their choice, provided to see what results they came up with on also to think further, have the opportunity to do some further policy thinking around what this meant for legal services market. So what? They found waas that 71% of people have some kind of appetite to shop around for legal services. People generally, you know, those people. 71% of people spent more than one hour looking for legal services provider, and of those, 66% of people considered more than one what they looked at when considering the providers waas lots of different factors. Reputation was most important, followed by price. But they also considered location on whether or not they had a recommendation from somebody else on that tractor that over there some of those factors seem to knitting together, so recommend that you might go with reputation for example on. But people generally felt that they didn't always come out with what they wanted. Only 15% of people found price information they wanted of this study that was taking body so on. What they found was that there could be more and better information published on price on the way person was presented affected people's final decisions as to how Astal, which provided they were going to go for. So this is what this always looked at. This is how they considered the information. It was a randomized control toil of just over 4000 members of the public. And they look to regulated firms. I looked at recent users, and so what was involved was a fairly extensive, uh, review off, um, recent users of legal services members of the public on regulated firms Andi, in order to gather this information and to put that information out there falling out, what people actually thought on this research is what has informed the walls that gets away put in place, but also the guidance on the templates, the best way of putting place in within their guidance. So sometimes when we're going through this against say, how going Look at the guidance that s has put in place. They've published a full template there for what you're looking at on what they were doing there was looking to see what kind of information people wanted to do and how that information was being presented. So that's what sat behind and informed what yes, away do and how that I'm putting this war, because this is what the consumer apparently wanted to sing in dealing with this type of situation. So as a firm, we can take advantage of the fact that there somewhere has put this level of research in in order to find out what the consumer wanted and preferred. In order to do this, it might be an important decision if you decide not to take yes, always temporary or the way they want information to be presented. Have your consumers told you that you want it in a different way? And what did they think on? So it might be an opportunity for you to look further into your specific set of consumers if you think that they might differ from what? Yes, I waited with their controlled sample of members of the public. A recent uses of legal services okay, So let's move on to thinking about who has to publish this information now. So we're gonna look in detail at the S. Always price Transparency was in a minute, but just a summarize for you And this was one of the start questions at Beginning. Who has to publish passes and what does this apply to? This applies to those solicitors from a Nestle perspective and also from a sales perspective, we're looking, yes, the labels. Now I'm disappointed. Those offering services for members of the public in conveyancing, probate, motoring offenses, employment tribunals for unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal on immigration, excluding asylum work. There's also a separate category for small businesses as well. So this is really you was being targeted. We're looking to see whether you know, from a policy perspective whether people were being provided with appropriate levels of advice and guidance and the market was appropriately open for consumers and small businesses. As you remember. So the second category is small business on their covered, and you have to have price transparency and be aware off the bulls and guidance for those recovering debts up to 100,000 for those dealing with employment tribunals on for licensing applications for business premises on someone very broad basis. What kind of information do you need to provide? Well, you need to outline typical timescales. For equated services, you need to provide full details of the experience and qualifications of staff who work in these areas. You need to publish this information on firm's website or you don't have a website. You need to make that information available to somebody requests it. Um, the information should be accessible. Clearly. Sign posted on easy to find on the information must be immediately available in any format to a member of the public who requests it. So this information is all, uh, you know, required under the walls and guidance of the S. L. A. Has published. If you have more than one website, it's important that consumers are aware they're dealing with and important that that information is clearly so imposed it so you don't miss. So on every Web site you have to be upto easily find it on the sign, posted it to it, perhaps on another or central point that you're happy for consumers to access. There's still six within your problem, so the insulate walls themselves are quite small. They are provided here within the slides and also within your written notes as well. So you can take a print out on going happen those at a later point if you want Teoh. But they all themselves a relatively small, compact set of balls with very detailed guidance that sits alongside them. So it's a different way of doing things here so extensively. Guidance but a relatively small set of balls. So I'm just going to read the Walls team now on DSO and then go through. Each level of guidance for each type of work. Now should have become clear from the start of questions, which I'm parts of work needs to be looked up and considered doing different tops of what, um, the only one I haven't mentioned is a sinister that was doing emanate work on. And so this becomes a a question as to whether or not, for example, there's only aspect of debt recovery what the amount is within that I m in a work on whether there's any other aspect off a transaction that get pulled into, um, that piece of work. So the important things about mind is, if you're doing for undertaking a transaction that might include aspects of things which have touched on by price transparency, you have to think about price transparency as part of that part of your service. So Emma is a good example. You might pull in other parts of different of different transactions, for example, on then there becomes a price transparency requirement in perspective that you were. If you're doing that with that kind of service and there's regularly you're pulling in, you know what? It's effective by price transparency. You might want to think. Actually, I'm going to adopt the same type of attitude for the whole transaction that I mean to take on. Publish my prices accordingly. Alternatively, if you're firm that offers more services beyond what set out there on Kashima's Come looking for prices on your website. It's not too complicated prices on your website. They can find them in respect of certain areas of work. You might want to extend that. So your whole firm discovered is not something that you have to do immediately on. Certainly, what I would suggest is if you want to go down that road and find its successful works. Your consumers start with those areas of work which is covered by the bulls. I'm then expanded further in Tallinn, so I'm just going to be this set of rules to you now. So it starts with this. Costs in promotion are northwards body or an individual practice in circumstances set out. And then it goes on to talk about circumstances set out in the authorization of individuals regulations which are new regulations under Look into the Future, which set up how individuals will be regulated who publishes as part of its usual business. The availability of any of the services set out well 1.32 individuals or 1.42 businesses, most in relation to those services published on this website costs information in accordance with wars one at 1.5 1.6. So let's have a look than in it. It moves forward. I'm just going to skip forward than to 1.3 services in relation to the individuals are on. This goes on to then set up which services are covered by these new rules on most set up cost information on and on the same for businesses and it provides a little bit more information than I just summarized a moment ago. So the services are a the conveyance of um residential real property. A real estate which comprise freehold or leasehold themselves purchases, mortgages or remortgage is the connection on distribution of assets belonging to a person following their death, where these are within the UK and the partners are not contested. The preparation and submission off immigration applications, excluding asylum applications. The provision of our Boys Representation First Tribunal in relation to appears against Home Office visa or immigration decisions excluding asylum appeals. The provision of a voice and representation at the Magistrate School in relation. Teoh Summary only road traffic offenses dealt with our single hearing, um, on the provision of a bison representation for employees in relation Teoh bringing planes before an employment tribunal for unfair dismissal on wrongful dismissal so those with services in relation to individuals. Let's move on to looking at the surfaces in relation to businesses. On one point for the services in relation to businesses are the provision of a bison representation to employers in relation to defendant claims before the employment Tribunal bought before buying employees for fair dismissal or wrongful dismissal. Debt recovery to the value of 100,000 on and see the provision of advice and assistance and representation in relation to licensing application for business premises. And then it goes on at 1.5 to talk about costs, information. So what must be provided in relation to those services on what type of information must be provided about the costs? So again, we summarize some of that before we're going to look in the detail here. And then in a minute we're gonna have a look at the guidance, which provides even more detail about what happens in respective each of those areas on how that's being drawn out by the some of those 10 plates that they're providing for that level of detail course information. The total cost of the service all were not vertical. The average costs a range, of course, the basis for charges including any hourly rates on or fixed fees. The experience and qualifications of anyone carrying out the work on the supervisors description off Andi cost off any lightly disbursements, but the actual cost of dispersement is not known. The average range of costs when whether any fees and disbursements attract fat and if so, the amount of back that they attract. Details off what services are included in voice displayed, including the key stated the matter, and any time you have reached stage. Details of services that might reasonably be expected to be included in Price newspaper are not. And if you use conditional fees or damage based agreements, um, circumstances in which clients may have to make any payments themselves your services, including what comes out of the damages and then what it goes on to say at 1.6 is cost. Information published under the rules must be clear and accessible and in a prominent place on your website. So that's what I'm saying. Before you got more than one website. How's that going to be arranged? Can you make sure it's prominently displayed on each website on all that is accessible through different websites to the same place, but it's still prominently displayed, so I haven't put all of the on and whole Setubal's on this light. I'm just their parts about who is covered and also the cost information. But the full text of the walls is available in the guidance which on the return notes which companies this webinar So what? I was discovered in the bulls. Details of the complaints procedure need to be available on the website. Then he speak details of complaints can be money to the legal ombudsman and also to the S R. A. E s away number needs to be available on the website and also there s a way. And now introducing a digital badge as well too which is securely produced, only available Tau sa regulated firms, which is the way I was going to require that you place on on your essay authorization number also needs to be there on the words authorized and regulated. By the way, if you are unauthorized body, you also need to be informing clients off your insurance and compensation arrangements as well. It's also important to include details off who will be conducting the case on their qualifications on what the relationship is to those people involved. So he will be supervising at work. And so that information should also be clearly available on the website on whether there's any implication in terms of the cost, people have to pay, so to support this question sponsor reforms on ethics guidance have produced helpful guidance in convincing probate and other areas which are affected, and that this applies. Tiu S are very regulated firm, so they might be of interest to CFC firms as well. If you want to look across and see what other people are doing in respect of questions, Bernstein how that's working. So yes, I always say that in terms of convincing applies to Freehold purchase property. It applies to leasehold purchase property on mortgages on re mortgages. But it doesn't apply if there's a chance for property a financial settlement as part of a divorce in terms of probate. What they say is a requirement to publish process for probate work conducted in contested cases, where all the assets in the UK on this applied to test eight cases on interstate Places I'm taxable don't export cases as well. So what they are saying is you have to be clear about the fees that will be charged any taxes that might be playable on where these will be additional to the cost of displayed indeed, in with taxes. The suggestion is, if there's a variation in that it might be suitable to send ground onto an online tax calculator that you trust such a with hmrc on so that they can have a look on DSI. How that works. It could builds abuse to provide instead wider resources so that they can have a read off the kinds of things involved in the transaction that they're taking andan. They give examples of situations which could cause an increase in the amount of fees that will be payable on the's can set up you can provide these kinds of examples do declined in order to demonstrate when you might be charging more for certain types of work. So ethics guidance have produced guidance in respect of lots of different areas of law. I'm not just in respect of converting in probate, so I'm going to take through each of those different areas of law. Do you have a look at the guidance in respect of motor differences when provided a very small summary here? If that's what the work your undertaking, they're saying it's somewhere in your fences and devote traffic actor my traffic regulation act on, but you have to provide details of the weight that you're charging up on an estimate of the number of hours if you're working on an hourly basis. Andi, to ensure the fees cover all aspects of the transaction to include representation at a single. There is a template that's available. Andi, do you go and have a look at with us? Away have said in respect. And so the next example that yes, I have provided his immigration on what they said is the following types of application covered by the walls. Applications for naturalisation or registration on Did British Nationality Act applications on behalf of European Economic Area National was on their family members under the applicable E A regulation of immigration rules, including applications permanent residents, residents cars on distance, difficult applications under the immigration rules, including student and work experience visas. Visit visas. It's bouncing partner applications, um, applications for work business or study under the points based system dependent relative from family reunion applications. Ancestry visas on other categories, such as applications on the basis of long residents. Do you have a look at the guidance in detail just to summarize, though, and ethics have said that you're not required to publish prices for the following types of applications Asylum applications, statelessness applications, human rights or private life applications. Applications for Secretary of State immigration bail are reconsideration. Legacy requests, judicial reviews that just claims for unlawful detentions. Immigration service sister businesses on that, the quoted be should be considering documents attending on client taking their instructions on providing advice. Um, preparing on submitting the application, advising client timelines on the outcome of their application. So then it make sure that you understand the information is translated into the languages of the communities that you're working with, as well as the guidance for ethics guidance on and be clear that clients have the option of using an interpreter of their choosing. So when dealing with employment matters, what the SA way upset, he's Teoh quite a range of estimates and explain what factors likely to affect those range of estimates. Explore other funding options available, including insurance on a group, the actions into what would be trust as being high, medium or low complexity. To help consumers decide where their case might sit on what factors might be affecting there's Mawr Information in the S always guidance concerning on employment. If you're doing debt recovery work, it is best to have a look at the guidance provided by us away. Because of the complexity of what the S are suggesting on the links between recovery that the client can expect, the type of work is being into taken on. Yes, I have set out potential information the way in which he imprisoned up to the client in different formats on provided templates in the guidance that's provided in the written notes. So it's best to go on, have a look at that in detail because we can't really produce it on. Discuss it in detail in this lines because of the complexity of the charging mechanisms potentially for debt recovery work. The same is also true in respect of licensing applications as well. So do I just have a look at the guidance of the S always have supplied In respect of that, we're going to move on now. Talking about CFC on their approach to price transparency on also what they said in their guidance is about in terms of informed choices. Now, in dealing with that, it's important so that if your s are regulated, you might also want to have a look about the COC saying as Well, if you want to understand how people are going about providing information to their client, what kind of information is being provided on how that looks? If you're firm thinking about switching regulators as well, this might also be interesting you. So the Saracens approach has been similar to the SA. May accept. The COC have just made a moments to their existing codes on Handbook on, then produce a garden hose there. So we have produced an entirely new set of rules. Yes, always was obviously reference what's in the looking to the future reforms. So there are amendments to the code of conduct from the CMC, their amendments to the estimates on terms of engagement code and also to the complaints code as well. And then you seriously have produced a separate informed choice garden. So that's how they branded this reform that's going on at the moment, according informed choice. So if you're a COC regulated firm, what do you need to do? Well, I would always suggest that it's a seriously regularly from you. Do you have a look at the guidance and information that the s away have provided because it can provide useful information and ideas for you about how to go about structuring what you're doing. Clients might find useful and also what your competitors might be doing. But in addition to that, I would also provide, you know, there's always regulated firms with the same advance as well. So in COC, guidance is always useful to have a look at a different perspective. Fresh perspective in terms of the way in which rules are being thought about. So let's have a look at what COC changes and amendments are. I'm just going to read to you. So what they had previously said was all business communications website office premises must display information. Confirm your team is regulated by the CFC. They've now extended that to say on the practice license number. Names of the managers unidentified knows you're authorised persons. Um and then it goes on to say you display the CLC secure badge in a prominent place. So this is the digital budge that the CLC have that the s aware now also introducing which is produced Elektronik Lee and secure so it can only be provided Teoh sale see regulated firms. I'm Andrea provides crossed information in a prominent place on your website by other reasonable means. On request, you provide cost information in a prominent place on your website on by other means on request as well. And then, um if you go down looking that equality of access and service changes there about, um providing information declines of their right to make a complaint to whom and the timeframe involved. And Theseus. They've extended the wording to say You also make this information available in a prominent place on your website on by other means. Reasonable means on request on on. Then you go goes on to say you advise clients inviting their right to have complaint escalated to the league Nam Bittman on providing with contact details and timeframes of that body. And then it goes on to say you also make this information available in a prominent place on your website and by other means on the quest. If we look estimates, it says, um, description off on this is different to on cost off any dispersement likely to be incurred, so it had previously required you to look at the dispersement on describe those declined, but it's going further now to say you need to provide details of provided description of what's involved in that disbursement and also the likely cost about on where applicable land tax should be separately. Itemized, Um, And then it goes on to say, in terms of engagement, the name experience on def applicable. The qualifications of the individual should be detailed on, then goes on to say that there should be a clear description of the services, including the cost, including key stages of the transaction, indicative times gold of the transaction, a summary of services, including the cost on some of services which are not included in the cost on the information about who is providing the services so about stuff mixed their experience and qualifications. Mr. Also be made available in a prominent place on the website on by other means on request as well. And so I just really provided for you there details off what the sale see have set in their changes that they've made. But this is also fully set out in the written guidance that supports its webinar on bond. So do you have a look at that yourself? If you're a CRC regulated firm to make sure you fully compliant with rules. In addition to that, COC have provided guidance as well. Asked to changes on what they expect firms to be doing on that guidance is also fully available in the written notes, which accompany this weapon. So what the CLC have said is that you should avoid dark and in clarify terms such as dispersement. So what do we mean by dispersement on How is that being presented to the climb? Consumers might want someone posting to frequently asked questions on doing with the service that there boy costs. Information is defined hours a total cost of the service all we're not practicable. The average cost a range of costs be a description of the services offered. See your feet were not practicable. That average being or ranger fees, whether your fees are determined to fix him or by reference to hourly rates on what that looks like. I'm on a description of the value of the dispersement, including land tax, which would be separately, optimize where possible, where the actual cost of the dispersement isn't known, then provide a range. So this is the kind of thing that we would normally expect to see on. This is the kind of thing that could impact where that's going to be higher, where the VAT is payable on your feet and displacement on each case. How much of this papal unto whom? Whether you have a referral arrangements with the parties, whether we're full fee is paid and if so, the average referral fee payable. If you're using an instant quote generator, then they should provide the quote directly to consumers on the consumer. Shouldn't need to receive a call back or an email to in order to receive a quote so they should. Online information should be available online to the consumer. Um, displacements can be shown is enough, which is what the sale seems saying on website should be clear about which costs were included in a in a total price on which are not included in the total price. What's interesting about CFC's approach is the amount of firms that seriously regulates on what they do accordingly. So they look at this on a long going basis and I've said that it will be subject to ongoing monitoring the seriously regulator relatively small number of firms in comparison to the S r. And so we could probably expect CNC to have a look at this on a randomized basis or even tell every firm and to say, Are you compliant with rules? Come, we understand what they're doing on how it's being conducted. So if you're a SEAL see for is very important that you've taken a quick steps to get its right because I think it welcome to the attention of the secrecy. If this isn't being done correctly so what have we covered? Firstly, would commit the background to price transparency. Then we've also covered the same a report as well. Um, we've covered on the recommendations that came out of the same a report on what seem a report wants people to cover. We've looked at yes, always transparency rules. I'm about to the guidance that goes into supporting their shots, amounts of rules. We've looked at the COC response which has been around. I'm calling on their branding for that has been informed choice. So the next steps for you in terms of CPD in relation to this webinar are to go and have notes, and I suggest you look at those in detail within the note. Four sets of rules which are really just summarize for you. And then I've also, you know, provided that additional guidance at the SL Way requires your tablet on the COC so that you can, from their pick the bits that you want in terms of best practice. We often put that onto your website. Make that available for people not forgetting that price. Transparency is also about being aware of what service people are buying. So making sure that the climbs and descends the nature of the transaction was included in the transaction. What's included in the price? What additional costs they might have to pay their No, including who's conducting the work and what qualifications they have, the stuff mix and how that might impact the work, whether they could pay more for better service. For example, on how that works, um, with the firm over wall. It's also about saying to the client that this information is available on our website or in various accessible forms. It does require you to make that information available on the website. You might also want to think about putting it in another format as well, so recording it, for example, making sure that you put that information in your client Caroline, for example, might be an example of good practice. So you're mirroring what's on your website as well. So hopefully we've gone through the main requirements on how to find out different information. If you're watching this Lebanon thinking, what are the next steps? May well, go away and have a look and review the review. Your website review the s away guidance on the COC guidance in detail. So you can say, actually, this is what requirements are. This is the detail of the comments. This is how one I'm going to respond to that Andi thes are the next steps I'm going to take. Really? Just making sure that you're following on looking at those rules and principles appropriately and accordingly on checking off what you've done. If you're in a position where you've already got that information available on the website, then it might be a case of auditing. Not saying is that correct? Quickly. If you haven't got the information available on your website, it might be easiest to use. One of the templates has been provided by one of the regulators. So it's up to you how you would like to go about putting that information on your website. There, he might take steps to say We're providing this information In some departments. We also need to provide it in other departments as well. It's not a requirement of divorce provided for in certain areas of law. However, you know, I do have a look and think about whether that's the right thing to do your because that could be a choice that you make over wall. So just finally, to say thank you very much for watching hope it's been useful. Do you answer the questions and requests evidence you're learning? Do you make sure that you're taking those next steps to look at, um, the rules that set out in your in the attached guidance? What's in the templates that provided by the COC going Sorry, by the way, that the guidance has provided by the sales on make sure that your compliant requirement to comply starts from December 2018. Okay, thanks so much
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