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,...

Precedent: General Retainer Letter and Terms of Business Template for Solicitors (England and Wales)

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Precedents

[ Letterhead ]

Dear [ insert client’s name ]

[ Insert summary of the scope of services covered by the general retainer ]

This general retainer letter, together with the enclosed Terms of Business, sets out how we will act for you in relation to [ insert summary of the scope of services covered by the general retainer ]. A fuller outline of the services within this general retainer appears at section 1 below. Taken together, this letter and the Terms of Business constitute the contract between us. This does not constitute a [ Non-contentious OR Contentious ] business agreement for the purposes of the Solicitors Act 1974. If anything in this letter or other materials we supply is unclear, please contact me—for example, if you need information in larger print, an alternative format, or a different language.

1 Scope of services and limitations

This general retainer covers [ insert a detailed description of the scope of services covered by the general retainer ] (the 'Services'). We will deliver the Services with reasonable care and skill...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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