European Directive and information for clients

I understand that there is a European Directive which imposes obligations on solicitors about providing certain information to clients. When did this Directive come in to force and what information am I obliged to provide?

European Directive 2006/123 on services in the Internal Market was implemented in the United Kingdom via the Provision of Services Regulations 2009 (the Regulations).

These came in to force from 28 December 2009. Part 2 of the Regulations impose service obligations on solicitors to provide certain information to clients including:-

• Details of your compulsory professional indemnity insurance
• Your VAT number
• Details of complaint resolution procedures e.g. the Legal Complaints Service
• Details of how to access information regarding the Solicitors Code of Conduct

The Regulations stipulate a number of options and requirements as to how this information should be provided. For further information please see the Law Society’s Practice Note on the Provision of Services Regulations 2009.