The verdict in three sentences
A London law firm's website sits under four layers of obligations: UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, PECR for cookies and analytics, the SRA Transparency Rules for published information, and the Equality Act 2010 for accessibility. Fixing an existing site after an audit often costs 3 000 to 12 000 GBP in London, whereas a site rebuilt on accessible templates with clean cookie consent starts from a sound base, from 2 300 GBP at Kolonell. Technology does not replace your accountability: the privacy notice, the ICO fee and published prices remain the firm's job.
Which obligations apply to a London law firm's website?
| Obligation | Source | What it means for the site |
|---|---|---|
| Lawful basis and transparency | UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 | Clear privacy notice, notices on every contact or intake form |
| Data protection fee | Data Protection (Charges and Information) Regulations 2018 | Annual payment to the ICO: 52 GBP (tier 1), 78 GBP (tier 2), 3 763 GBP (tier 3), less 5 GBP by direct debit |
| Cookie and analytics consent | PECR | Non-essential cookies blocked before consent, rejecting as easy as accepting |
| Price and service information | SRA Transparency Rules | Prices and scope published for certain services (for example immigration excluding asylum, unfair dismissal claims before the Employment Tribunal, residential conveyancing, uncontested probate) |
| Complaints procedure and badge | SRA Transparency Rules | Complaints procedure published, SRA digital badge displayed on the site |
| Accessibility | Equality Act 2010 | Reasonable adjustments for disabled users; practical target WCAG 2.2 AA |
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 introduces exemptions for certain low-risk cookies, being phased in: check current ICO guidance before removing your banner. This is not legal advice.
What does compliance cost in London?
The figures below are a 2026 ballpark, based on public price pages of UK accessibility audit firms, minimum project sizes on Clutch.co profiles of London agencies and day rates published by independent consultants (often 450 to 800 GBP per day).
| Service | London agency or audit firm | Independent consultant | Kolonell |
|---|---|---|---|
| WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility audit (20 to 40 page site) | 2 500 to 7 000 GBP | 1 200 to 3 500 GBP | Not offered as a standalone audit |
| Cookie and privacy review | 1 500 to 4 000 GBP | 800 to 2 500 GBP | Structure built into the new site |
| Fixes on the existing site | 3 000 to 12 000 GBP | 1 500 to 6 000 GBP | Replaced by a rebuild |
| New site, accessible templates | 15 000 to 50 000 GBP | 4 000 to 15 000 GBP | 2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP |
| Timeline | 8 to 16 weeks | 4 to 10 weeks | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Time-zone overlap | Full | Variable | Full: team based in Dakar (GMT), same time as London in winter |
When the current site combines an old theme, untagged PDFs and a non-compliant cookie banner, audit plus fixes often exceeds the price of a new site. Tiers are detailed on the international website offer.
What does a Kolonell site include, and what stays with the firm?
| Element | Included by default in a Kolonell site | Firm's responsibility |
|---|---|---|
| Cookie consent banner | Yes, non-essential cookies blocked until consent | Choice of analytics and marketing tools |
| Privacy page | Structure and placement provided | Legal text, lawful bases, retention periods |
| Accessible templates | Yes: contrast, keyboard navigation, heading hierarchy, alt text | Alt text for images added later, accessible PDFs |
| Placement for SRA badge and complaints procedure | Yes | Supplying the badge code and procedure text |
| Price and service pages | Templates ready (Growth or Premium tier) | Exact prices, updates, compliance with SRA rules |
| ICO fee | No | Annual payment |
Payment is by bank transfer, 50 % at kickoff and 50 % at delivery, with 3 months of support. Maintenance afterwards, like a client portal or an integration with your case management system, is quoted on request.
When is a London agency the better choice?
If your firm needs a formal audit signed by a certified auditor for a public tender, in-person workshops with the COLP and DPO, or partner portraits shot at the office, a London agency or audit firm is the right call. Kolonell does no on-site meetings, no photo shoots and no standalone audits.
Questions to ask any provider: are templates tested with keyboard and screen reader? Does the cookie banner actually block scripts before consent? Who supplies the privacy notice text? Will the domain and code be in the firm's name? For a precise figure, use our free quote form.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example. Priya S., practice manager at a nine-solicitor firm in Holborn focused on immigration and employment law, receives an audit report: 64 WCAG failures and a cookie banner that loads analytics before consent. The fix quote is 7 500 GBP, on top of 3 000 GBP already paid for the audit, so 10 500 GBP.
The Growth tier at 3 900 GBP rebuilds the site with one page per service, accessible templates and the price pages the SRA requires for immigration and Employment Tribunal work. Even adding 2 000 GBP for an independent auditor to check after launch, the firm spends 5 900 GBP instead of 7 500 GBP of fixes, and ends up with a new site. Saving: 1 600 GBP, on a sounder base.
FAQ
Does a law firm have to pay the ICO fee?
In the vast majority of cases, yes, because it processes personal data electronically. The amount depends on size: 52 GBP for tier 1, 78 GBP for tier 2 and 3 763 GBP for tier 3.
Is the SRA digital badge mandatory?
SRA-regulated firms with a website must display the badge, mandatory since November 2019. Kolonell provides the placement, the firm supplies the code.
WCAG 2.1 or 2.2?
WCAG 2.2 AA, published in October 2023, is the recommended practical target in 2026. It adds 6 level A and AA criteria compared with 2.1, notably on target size and focus not obscured.
Does Kolonell write the privacy notice?
No. The site provides the structure and placement, the legal text belongs to the firm or its DPO. Native English copywriting covers the marketing and service pages.
How long does a new compliant site take?
From 3 to 4 weeks whatever the tier (2 300, 3 900 or 6 900 GBP), provided the legal texts and prices are supplied on time.
Let's scope your project. Send us your audit report or current site address, and we will propose a tier in GBP, from 2 300 to 6 900 GBP, delivered in 3 to 4 weeks. Request your free quote or see the international offer.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.