Legal and regulation

Helpful information on the advertising rules for ads about legal services and regulatory matters.

In addition to our rules, advertisers have an obligation to stick to any relevant legislation that relates to their sector, product or service. Our rules are designed to reflect the law, and some sections of the Advertising Code have explicit references to relevant legislation. However advertisers’ legal obligations are not covered in full and it remains the advertiser’s responsibility to seek out legal advice and make sure they have taken any relevant legislation into account when preparing their ads.

We do not enforce or interpret the law and if we believe it is better to refer a matter, or enquirer, to a law enforcement body, we will do so.

The main rules advertisers should be aware of are: ads should comply with the law and should not incite anyone to break it, and advertisers must not state or imply a product can legally be sold if it cannot.

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Latest rulings

Jones Whyte Law Ltd t/a Jones Whyte
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad), Website (own site)
- 24 September 2025
A website and paid-for Facebook ad for James Whyte, relating to group action compensation claims for people who had been affected by a data breach, failed to present material information clearly and also omitted material information.
KP Law Ltd
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad), Website (own site)
- 24 September 2025
A website and a paid-for Facebook ad for Join the Claim, relating to group action compensation claims by people who had been affected by a data breach, falsely implied that the advertiser was acting for purposes outside its business, didn’t make their commercial intent clear, didn’t present material informa...

View all rulings

Legal and regulation

Helpful information on the advertising rules for ads about legal services and regulatory matters.

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Popular advice

Recognising ads: Social media and influencer marketing

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Misleading advertising

Relevant codes

10 Prohibited categories

04 Harm and offence

01 Compliance

04 Harm and offence

Appendix 1 Statutory framework for the regulation of broadcast advertising

02 Recognition of marketing communications

07 Political and controversial matters

01 Compliance

03 Misleading advertising

Appendix 2 Extracts from directive 89-552-EEC as amended (audiovisual media services directive)

Appendix 2 Advertising rules for on-demand services regulated by statute

Appendix 3 The DMCCA and the BPRs

Appendix 1 The DMCCA and the BPRs

31 Other categories of radio advertisements that require central copy clearance

03 Misleading advertising

How the system works

32 Scheduling

07 Political advertisements

Appendix 3 VSPs Advertising rules for video-sharing platforms regulated by statute