Q. Am I entitled to charge clients for the preparation of a client-care letter?

A. Generally, a client-care letter is sent out after you have accepted the retainer. Therefore, there is no reason why you should not charge for the letter. It is an important document, as it should not only set out your costs and your firm's terms and conditions, but it should also confirm the work that you will be doing, and, if appropriate, work that does not fall within the retainer. The cost of the letter should fall within the costs that you have agreed generally with your client. It is difficult to see how you can charge for letters sent to potential clients before they agree to instruct your firm, even if these set out your costs, as they would not fall within the ambit of the retainer.





Q. I am a retired solicitor, and I do not hold a current practising certificate; however, my name is still on the roll. I have been asked to certify a copy of a document. May I do this without a practising certificate?


A. You do not need to have a practising certificate to certify a copy of a document as the true copy of an original. However, you must not mislead the person signing the document, or the recipient of the document, as to your status. Therefore, you should describe yourself as a 'retired solicitor' or a 'solicitor non-practising'. It will be a good idea to consider whether the final recipient of the document who is relying on the certified copy will be content to receive a copy signed by a retired or non-practising solicitor, or whether he will require certification by a practising solicitor.




Question of ethics is compiled by the Law Society's professional ethics guidance team. Send questions to Austin O'Malley, the Law Society, Ipsley Court, Berrington Close, Redditch B98 0TD; DX 19114 Redditch