Engagement/retainer management

Engagement management is about choosing the right client and the right matter at the right time, and then properly scoping and documenting the retainer. We see claims where firms fail to do these things or they fail to manage the client’s expectations to the retainer or recognise when the retainer has changed.

Practice Management

• Cyber security
• Resources and information
• Engagement/retainer management (current page)
• Professional Responsibility
• Verification of Identity
• Supervision
• Client resources

When to Terminate a Client Retainer: Ethical Duties and Practical Steps

There are many reasons why a lawyer should decide to end a retainer. Knowing when to part ways with a client and how to do it, is an important part of your risk management toolkit.

When language is a barrier

Legal practitioners are obliged to provide clear advice to clients in terms that can be understood. Clear and effective communication can sometimes be difficult when there are language barriers.

This article outlines some issues and risks for practitioners to be mindful of when acting for clients who do not speak English as a first language, and provides some tips to safely navigate the use of interpreters and translators.

Use non-engagement communications to avoid misunderstandings and provide clarity

Non-engagement communications are a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of legal practice management. They inform parties who have consulted with a lawyer that the lawyer has not been engaged or will not be representing them.

Is suing for costs really worth it?

Suing a client for unpaid fees can be met with an allegation of negligence. This article provides some risk management tips to avoid being in this difficult situation.

Risk management for communicating by messaging apps and SMS

Text messages and instant messaging applications such as WhatsApp and WeChat are used by some practitioners to communicate with their clients. While messaging can be a convenient and efficient communication tool, its use gives rise to a number of challenges and risks for law firms including record retention, data security and confidentiality.

Law firms using text messages and messaging apps need to be alert to and manage these risks by implementing clear processes and procedures governing how, when and in what circumstances they are to be used and how messages are to be preserved and retained.