Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Client definition

What does Client mean? In legal practice, a client is the person or organisation for whom a lawyer or law firm acts and to whom professional duties are owed. This includes individuals, companies, partnerships and public bodies, whether instructing directly or through an agent. The term is a general professional expression rather than a statutory definition; its scope is shaped by engagement terms (the retainer) and by professional conduct rules and case law on duties of care, conflicts of interest, confidentiality and legal professional privilege. Key features include: identifying the correct client at the outset (especially for corporate clients, where the client is the entity,...

Chronology of substantive changes to Client Care Letter and Terms of Business precedents for law firms (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

This Practice Note contains a chronological list of substantive changes to our Client care letter—law firms and Terms of business—law firms Precedents

2024

January — Terms of business—law firms: Clause 16.3.4(d) revised to incorporate the Legal Ombudsman’s updated postal address...

2023

November — Client care letter—law firms: Section 2 on climate risk amended and section 5 enhanced with prompts to consider recoverability of costs and liability for any shortfall when giving costs information; references to clients paying privately also refreshed, reflecting Law Society guidance on climate risk and SRA expectations around shortfalls where costs from an opponent are insufficient...
November — Terms of business—law firms: Optional wording inserted in clause 5.4 and the drafting note broadened to exclude climate‑risk and climate‑related legal issues, in line with the Law Society’s climate risk guidance...
April — Terms of business—law firms: Clause 9.4 updated, new clauses 9.5 and 9.6 introduced, and a drafting note added to clause 9.6, to reflect SRA guidance on confidentiality of client information...
March — Terms of business—law firms: Clause 16.3.3 updated, optional clause 16.3.4 removed, and drafting notes to clause 11.5.3 expanded, aligning with SRA guidance on publishing complaints procedures and the new LeO time limits effective from 1 April...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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