Correction, 6 October 2026. An earlier version of this post reported a dataset of 6,300 sites and different percentages, and cited enforcement figures I could not substantiate. Those numbers were wrong and I have removed them. The figures below come from the published scan and the full breakdown is public at firmbeacon.co.uk/statistics. Sorry for the earlier version.
The SRA runs automated sweeps of law firm websites, checking for the information the Transparency Rules require. Most firms find out about a gap when the letter arrives.
What a sweep looks for
1. Your SRA number
Visible as text on your public pages, not buried where a visitor cannot reasonably find it.
Common gap: the number exists somewhere but is hard to locate.
2. The clickable SRA digital badge
The embedded badge that links to your SRA record, not a saved image that looks like it.
Common gap: the badge was downloaded as an image years ago and never updated. It looks correct but does not link anywhere.
3. Complaints information
How someone complains to you, and how they escalate to the Legal Ombudsman. The Ombudsman needs to be named.
Common gap: a complaints procedure exists but is hard to find, or the Ombudsman is not named.
4. Price information
For services covered by the rules, published price ranges, what is included, timescales and experience.
Common gap: a general fees page that does not cover the specific services the rules list.
Why gaps happen
Redesigns that drop pages. Content that moves. CMS updates that change templates. None of it is intentional, and all of it is invisible from inside the firm.
What the scan found
Across 5,770 SRA-regulated firm websites scanned in August 2026:
- SRA number readable: found on 79% of sites, not found on 21%
- Clickable SRA badge: found on 88%, not found on 12%
- Complaints information: found on 87%, not found on 13%
- Legal Ombudsman mention: found on 74%, not found on 26%
- Price information: found on 6%, not found on 94%
Price information is the gap that stands out. It is also the one that needs ongoing maintenance rather than a single fix.
A caveat
"Not found" means the scan did not detect the item on the pages it read on the scan date. It may sit on a page the scan did not reach, or may have been added since. It is not a legal opinion and it is not a statement that any firm has broken a rule.
Methodology
The scan read public pages only, respected robots.txt, and cross-checked SRA numbers against the SRA register. It covered 5,770 SRA-regulated firm websites across 808 towns in England and Wales in August 2026.
Per-town results and the full national breakdown are published at the link below. The raw findings are also offered as a CSV for anyone who wants to check the work.
Full breakdown: firmbeacon.co.uk/statistics
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