The SRA's transparency rules now require published pricing on many services, and its 2024 guidance encourages client-experience feedback on regulated firms. Verified reviews are one of the best ways to meet both — provided the flow respects client confidentiality and the reply policy stays inside SRA rules.
Confidentiality is absolute
A review may not confirm the existence of a matter without the client's clear consent. Invitation templates must never reference the specific matter type.
Timing — after matter closure, not during
Send the invitation after final billing, not before. Reviews solicited mid-matter can create client-care complaint exposure.
Named fee-earner reviews
Named-fee-earner reviews are permitted and useful — provided the fee-earner has consented in writing and the review is voluntary.
- Post-closure timing
- No matter-type in the invitation
- Named fee-earner requires their consent
- Never reply confirming matter facts
Reply policy
Never confirm facts of a matter in a public reply. Thank the client, invite them to continue offline, escalate any complaint to the firm's formal complaints process.
FAQ
Can I list awards inside a review widget?
Yes, in a separate 'awards' section. Do not conflate award badges with review verification badges — that misleads consumers.
Is legal-services review data covered by GDPR specifically?
Yes, and often by professional privilege too. Retention and access controls must reflect both regimes.
- Case study: a family law firm's verified review programme after 12 monthsCase Studies · 7 min22% match
- Regulated and mandatory-service businesses: reviews as the trust bridgeGrowth · 5 min22% match
- Dental clinic reviews: GDC compliance and verified feedbackClinics & Healthcare · 8 min13% match
- Dental clinic reviews UK: a compliance-first 2026 guideClinics & Healthcare · 13 min12% match
- Review invitation timing: when to ask, how often, and why it mattersPlaybooks · 8 min9% match
- Cosmetic clinics: the trust signals patients actually check in 2026Clinics & Healthcare · 9 min8% match
Keep reading
- 1SEO for review pages: how verified reviews lift organic rankingsSEO · 9 min
- 2How to spot fake reviews: a practical detection checklistTrust · 8 min
- 3Detecting inauthentic review trends across a sectorResearch · 11 min
- 4How to avoid review sites that publish fake reviewsTrust · 7 min
- 5How authentic reviews build a healthy business profile that ranks on GoogleSEO · 10 min
- Verified Reviews
- Trust & Safety
- Online Scams
- Phishing Defence
- SEO
- Marketing
- Growth
- Consumer Rights
- AI & Reviews
- Hospitality
Get the newsroom in your inbox every Friday.
Reviews reporting, scam alerts and playbooks. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Discussion (2)
- Priya S.· 2 days ago
Really practical breakdown — the four-part reply structure is now on our till-side crib sheet. Thank you.
- Dan (Cannock Plumbing)· 5 days ago
Went from 12 reviews to 47 in three months following almost exactly this playbook. It works.