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LSRA wants submissions on solicitor advert regulation

The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is inviting submissions as part of a public consultation on the regulation of advertising of legal services.

Such advertising is part of the remit of the LSRA and the body is seeking views from a wide range of organisations and individuals, including legal practitioners, consumers and members of the public.

Provisions

The advertising regulations to be issued by the authority are not allowed to restrict the advertising of legal services unless the restriction is:

• Necessary for the protection of the independence, dignity and integrity of the legal profession,
• Where an overriding reason exists relating to the public interest, and
• Where the restriction is non-discriminatory and proportionate.

The regulations may:

(a) Specify the category or categories of legal practitioners to whom such regulations apply,

(b) Make provisions in relation to advertisements that may be published, or caused to be published by or on behalf of a legal practitioner, including provision in respect of their content and size,

(c) Provide for the manner in which the authority is to determine whether any particular advertisement published or caused to be published by a legal practitioner is in contravention of the 2015 act, or the advertising regulations to be issued by the authority,

(d) Restrict the publication of any advertisement which, in the opinion of the authority, is likely to bring the profession into disrepute, is in bad taste, reflects unfavourably on other legal practitioners, is false or misleading in any material respect, is published in an inappropriate location, expressly or impliedly solicits, encourages or offers any inducement to any person or group or class of persons to make claims for personal injuries, or seek legal services in connection with such claims.

The LSRA is seeking written submissions by the extended closing date of 29 February 2020.

Submissions can be emailed to: publicconsultations@lsra.ie or sent by post to: Section 218 Consultation, Legal Services Regulatory Authority, PO Box 12906, Dublin 2.