For us to maintain the confidence of our users, it is necessary for you to comply with certain standards of care and conduct which we insist you adopt in your dealings with the clients we refer to you.

Principles

There are a number of key principles that we insist are maintained in order to uphold the integrity of the Oratto brand and the service delivered by Member Lawyers to our users:

Putting Clients first:

The work you perform is of great importance, but without our valued clients there would be no work to do. Clients should therefore be treated with the utmost respect and courtesy, no matter who they are or what they do. During any kind of exchange or engagement with the client you should act solely in terms of the client’s best interests whilst adopting the other key principles of this code.

Be responsive:

Referred clients should be contacted as soon as possible following their referral. It is vital that all potential clients are contacted within 2 working hours of their referral, however we request that you endeavour to make contact with any potential new client within one working hour.

Integrity:

As a lawyer acting for an Oratto referred client you should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for yourselves, your family or your friends, other than those charges which would ordinarily make up your reasonable costs. You must declare and resolve any conflicts of interests and relationships that might compromise this level of integrity.

Objectivity:

Oratto Member Lawyers must always act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

Accountability:

Oratto Member Lawyers should be accountable for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to any scrutiny necessary to ensure this is maintained.

Openness:

Oratto Member Lawyers should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the client unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

Honesty:

Oratto Members Lawyers should always be truthful.

Good communication:

Members should provide a pro-active and responsive service to all Oratto referred clients. Information should be shared openly and time should be taken to listen carefully to the needs of our mutual clients.

Leadership:

All Oratto Member Lawyers should exhibit leadership principles within their own behaviour and actively promote and robustly support the principles and be willing to challenge poor behaviour by other Member Lawyers if it should occur.

Corporate responsibilities

Members are the face and voice of our organization. The Oratto brand is reflected in the professionalism of the work of Member Lawyers and the way they behave. Lawyers therefore have a responsibility for protecting, promoting and maintaining the positive, trustworthy image of the Oratto brand.

Members have a duty to ensure that they fully comply with relevant employment law, equalities, the human rights act, health and safety law, data protection and freedom of information legislation.

Duties of Members

Members have a duty to ensure that their profiles are up to date and current with the latest information. Oratto’s mission is to connect consumers with the right lawyer and to generate work for lawyers that they like to handle and which they are highly competent at. Oratto is about helping those about to engage a lawyer make properly informed choices and providing them with a quick and easy route to engage with the right solicitor for them. An up to date profile is thus central to our proposition and of paramount importance.

Members have an overriding duty of care towards the client. Our primary principle is to put the client first and in doing so we expect Members to adopt each of the other guiding principles in order to maintain the highest standards of care and conduct towards each prospective client. This is of the utmost importance to us.

Oratto Member Lawyers have a duty to ensure that they have a clear understanding of the Referral Fee Agreement and the importance of making accurate declarations of any work received through the Oratto website portal. A large element of the referral fee is redirected back into marketing so that Oratto can generate more business for lawyers. Members must ensure that fees are paid in full and on time.

Members have a duty to support the wellbeing of the Oratto brand. Any communication with the media about Oratto and the work generated by it, including publication of views via the internet or by any other means, should be discussed and agreed with the Board of Directors of Oratto before a statement is published. In communicating with the media or making any statement, members do so on the basis of collective responsibility and in support of the Oratto brand, our objectives and our policies.

Members have a duty to raise any concerns about any possible wrongdoing of a fellow Member Lawyer or of any director or officer of Oratto Ltd. Members are expected to adopt the highest standards of propriety and accountability and to promote an anti-fraud culture. This includes ensuring compliance with the law on bribery and taking steps to avoid any situation where there is an expectation of a gift or payment in return for an advantage of any kind.

All Oratto Member Lawyers have a duty to raise any concerns about compliance with this code with the Board of Directors of Oratto Ltd.