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United Kingdom
United Kingdom
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,...
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Return to work interviews for law firms: legal duties, implementation and best practice (England, Wales and Scotland)
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Practice notes
The purpose of the return to work interview (RTWI)
Running an RTWI confirms that an employee coming back after a spell of absence is fully fit to resume work on their return to the workplace. This is particularly vital where the individual is still experiencing health issues or is taking medication with side effects you ought to be aware of at work. It also aims to put the employee at ease and make them aware of the support available to them.
Why implement return to work interviews?
Excessive absence harms a firm’s profitability, productivity and client service levels, as well as the effectiveness and morale of colleagues who must absorb the additional workload. It is also possible that absence patterns reflect workplace culture, and RTWIs provide a means to examine and address that. Putting in place a formal process to hold an RTWI after an employee’s absence is an effective way to control absence levels and reduce them where they are excessive.
The benefits of conducting return to work interviews
Effective RTWIs:
- offer a clear chance to reiterate your firm’s expectations around attendance and presence within your organisation overall
- bring greater clarity to the reasons for any absence reported...
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Web page updated on 21/05/2026
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