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

Online Tax Rebates Ltd
- Not upheld
- Website (own site)
- 22 July 2020
A website ad for tax rebate quotes did not misleadingly imply consumers could obtain an estimate before deciding whether to proceed with a claim.
Solaw International Ltd t/a QLTS Advantage
- Upheld
- Internet (on own site), Website (own site)
- 29 April 2020
A website for a training course for lawyers made misleading and unverified claims.
UK Deed Poll Service Ltd
- Upheld
- Internet (on own site)
- 18 March 2020
Website ads for a deed poll company misled consumers by implying it was the officially recognised organisation for such services.
Home Office
- Upheld
- Radio
- 28 August 2019
A radio ad by the Home Office was misleading because it did not make sufficiently clear that some applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme would need to provide additional documents beyond their passport or ID card.

View all rulings

Legal and regulation

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

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Latest rulings

Online Tax Rebates Ltd

Solaw International Ltd t/a QLTS Advantage

UK Deed Poll Service Ltd

Home Office

Help getting it right

Popular advice

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Relevant codes

Appendix 1 The CPRs and BPRs

How the system works

01 Compliance

History of self-regulation

01 Compliance

32 Scheduling

Appendix 1 Statutory framework for the regulation of broadcast advertising

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

31 Other categories of radio advertisements that require central copy clearance

Appendix 3 The CPRs and BPRs