With the enforcement date of the European Accessibility Act (EAA) fast approaching on June 28, 2025, professional services firms, especially in the legal sector, face a crucial reckoning. Recent sample data assessing the homepage accessibility of 10 UK law firm websites reveals an industry lagging behind in meeting even the most basic digital accessibility standards. While the EAA has yet to generate widespread urgency among some organizations, its implications for UK-based firms operating in the EU are substantial and fast-approaching.
The EAA and Its Relevance to UK Firms
The EAA is a European Union directive designed to harmonize accessibility requirements across member states for a wide array of digital and physical products and services. Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, the Act still applies to UK-based professional services firms that operate within the EU, offer services to EU citizens, or maintain an EU-facing online presence.
The directive mandates that digital offerings; such as websites, mobile apps, and e-commerce platforms—meet specific accessibility criteria based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), particularly Level AA of WCAG 2.1 or 2.2. For professional services firms, this means ensuring that core digital assets like firm websites, client portals, and resource libraries are navigable and usable by people with a wide spectrum of abilities.
Key Findings From the Sample Data
The review of ten homepages from UK law firms uncovered a consistent pattern of non-compliance with basic accessibility standards. Issues included:
- Missing accessible names on links, making it difficult for screen reader users to understand the purpose of hyperlinks.
- Generic link text like “Click here” or “Read more,” which provides no contextual information to assistive technologies.
- Inadequate color contrast, posing readability challenges for users with visual impairments or age-related sight loss.
- Improper ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) attributes, resulting in broken or misleading experiences for assistive technology users.
- Autoplaying media without pause functionality, which not only fails accessibility guidelines but can also overwhelm users with cognitive or sensory sensitivities.
Alarmingly, every firm assessed had at least one Level A accessibility violation—a level considered the bare minimum for compliance.
Accessibility Is More Than Compliance
While the threat of regulatory fines and reputational damage is real, particularly with the potential for penalties to be levied per EU member state, the conversation around accessibility needs to evolve beyond risk management.
Accessibility benefits a far broader audience than people with registered disabilities. It improves digital experiences for:
- Older adults, who may experience decreased vision, hearing, or dexterity.
- People with temporary impairments, such as a broken arm or recovery from eye surgery.
- Users in challenging environments, such as bright sunlight, poor internet connectivity, or noisy surroundings.
- People using alternative devices or assistive technologies, including voice-controlled interfaces, screen readers, or keyboard-only navigation.
This wider definition of accessibility underscores its value in creating inclusive, equitable user experiences for all. It also aligns with the growing expectations of clients and the general public for organizations to demonstrate social responsibility and digital inclusiveness.
A Call to Action for UK Professional Services
The findings are a wake-up call for the entire professional services sector. As the EAA compliance deadline looms, UK firms cannot afford to treat accessibility as a secondary consideration. Immediate steps should include:
- Conducting a full accessibility audit of all digital assets.
- Remediating issues based on WCAG Level AA standards.
- Training internal teams—from developers to marketers—on accessibility best practices.
- Embedding accessibility into the design and development lifecycle, not bolting it on at the end.
Conclusion
Digital accessibility is no longer a fringe concern, it is a core component of legal, ethical, and user-centered business practices. The EAA may serve as a legal catalyst, but the broader imperative is clear: to create an inclusive digital environment that works for everyone. UK professional services firms, especially in the legal sector, must act now to meet not only the letter of the law but the spirit of inclusivity that underpins it.
The June 2025 deadline is not just a regulatory milestone—it is an opportunity to lead with purpose, demonstrate values, and future-proof the business in an increasingly accessible digital economy.