TripAdvisor fears over regulators' consumer website

Members of the SRA board have expressed concerns that the new combined regulators' consumer website, to be launched next month, could end up functioning as a legal TripAdvisor or price comparison website.

As first reported on solicitorsjournal.com yesterday, Legal Choices aims to put consumers "in the driving seat" and will include information from the SRA, BSB, ILEX professional standards and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

Responding to a comment from board member Martin Coleman comparing the site to TripAdvisor, Mehrunnisa Lalani, director of inclusion at the SRA, said: "This will not be a TripAdvisor or a Solicitors from Hell. It could be really useful for consumers to have a website which is a one-stop shop and which provides all the information you need on legal regulation with links to the regulators."

Lalani said Legal Choices could feature articles on issues like referral fees, along with alerts about scams and consumer surveys.

She said the site would not initially allow direct comments from consumers, but the creation of an "interactive community" was being tested and consumers were being asked for their opinions on it.

"I hope it will demystify legal services," she added.

Paul Marsh, former president of the Law Society, said: "It is difficult for consumers to identify the value of legal services.

"I would be concerned if this became just a price comparison site. We regulate firms to a specific standard, and the Law Society, with CQS, goes beyond that. This will have to be included in some way."

Jane Furniss said she was also concerned that if the site published details of complaint levels it could act as a comparison site.

In papers for the board meeting, the SRA said Legal Choices would "for the first time provide a market-wide picture of legal services covering all the different types of lawyer and law firm, as well as a whole range of support and advice suggestions".

Along with the major regulators, the Costs Lawyers Standards Board, the Intellectual Property Board and the Faculty Office will feature on Legal Choices.