A total of 109 out of the 381 legal firms across Scotland which were included in the review sample had pricing information available on their website in line with Law Society guidance.

Most larger practices with over 50 solicitors, at 87 per cent, displayed pricing on their website to enable consumers to consider potential costs. However it was a mixed picture for smaller practices whose websites were reviewed, with the smallest firms least likely to display pricing. Just over 20 per cent of sole practitioner firms and 30 per cent of two- to five-solicitor firms displayed price information. Almost half of firms with six to 10 solicitors, at 47 per cent, and over a third of firms with 11-50 solicitors, at 37 per cent, had pricing information available online.

The Law Society’s Price Transparency Guidance states that firms should display prices for a range of legal services to help people make better-informed choices. It applies to firms which provide legal advice directly to consumers, and does not apply to those solely undertaking legal aid work or that provide legal services to businesses. The Guidance also allows firms to display their pricing on their premises, which was not covered by the survey.

David Gordon, lay convener of the Law Society of Scotland Regulatory Committee, said: “There has been progress since the Guidance was introduced in 2021 but it’s clear that there’s more to be done on making pricing information readily available to consumers.

“As well as increasing clarity for consumers, price transparency can help improve access to justice. People can be anxious about seeing a solicitor because they have no idea about costs, resulting in some being put off seeking professional legal advice altogether. Having a clearer picture not only helps demystify the cost of legal services, but can also encourage people to seek professional advice rather than leave situations unresolved which can have an even higher cost – both emotionally and financially – in the long term.

“While unforeseen complexities can arise, potentially leading to additional work and expense, having a better understanding of costs from the outset benefits both the consumer and solicitor working on their behalf.

“Many consumers search for information online, but even small firms without a website can have information on display in their office or which they can send to potential clients before meeting with a solicitor. While people undoubtedly refer to reviews and recommendations from friends and family, those firms that are not making this information available could well be losing out to those that do.

“We are promoting the Guidance and the reasons behind it as a reminder for solicitors to make pricing information available. We plan to carry out additional research on compliance following the campaign and if further analysis shows that compliance with the Guidance has not improved significantly, we will consider next steps including whether to implement new Practice Rules about price transparency.”