This practice briefing is intended as a guide to good practice for lawyers undertaking limited retainers (also known as “unbundled” legal services).
A limited retainer is where a lawyer, by agreement with a client, performs one or more discrete tasks, while the client handles other matters that, in a traditional full service retainer, would form part of the services the lawyer would provide.
What has been described as a “justice gap” is growing between those who can afford to pay for traditional legal services and those who cannot. One suggested means by which lawyers can address this growing justice gap is through the provision of limited or “unbundled” legal services, in particular to clients who at least partly represent themselves in court.
More litigants in person (LiPs) are appearing before the courts, and more individuals are demonstrating a preference toward taking greater control over their own legal affairs. This “do it yourself” law culture is encouraged by the growth of self-help legal websites, community services, and information/form databases (such as JustAnswer.com). The use of Artificial Intelligence in the legal industry is also on the horizon.
The Ministry of Justice website provides information about self-representation in the different courts.
Elements of self-help and the limited retainer service model are not new. Executors frequently request a lawyer to apply for probate, but then carry out the rest of the legal work themselves. Limited service retainers are increasing in the field of family law, where recent changes make limited representation in the Family Court the norm.
Encouraging “do-it-yourself” solutions for clients who are willing and capable of taking greater control over their legal affairs can help to alleviate not only the financial strain on families and individuals in need of legal services, but also administrative strain felt by the wider legal system.
There is not yet any New Zealand case law on limited retainers. However, a recent decision of the United Kingdom Court of Appeal held that lawyers do not have a broader duty of care when offering unbundled services. The Court in Minkin v Lesley Landsberg [2015] EWCA Civ 1152 dismissed a professional negligence claim brought by a client against a family lawyer, with Lord Justice Jackson saying that solicitors acting under a “defined and limited retainer” do not owe a broader duty of care to clients that goes beyond the terms of the retainer. Jackson LJ stressed that, where unbundled services are offered and limits of liability are clearly defined, a lawyer will not be held responsible for issues arising in relation to the client’s legal proceeding but outside of the lawyer’s scope of responsibility.
While lawyers do not, according to Minkin, have a broader duty of care when offering unbundled services, care needs to be taken by a lawyer to ascertain the exact scope of the retainer consistent with their professional and ethical obligations. The scope will inform the breadth of the duty of care in a particular situation.
This was highlighted in a 2013 Queensland Supreme Court case, Robert Bax and Associates v Cavenham Pty Ltd [2013] 1 Qd R 476 490]. In that case, the solicitor argued that he was only engaged to prepare and stamp mortgage documents. The court held that a letter written by the client’s bank manager to the solicitor was evidence of a more extensive retainer, and that the scope of the retainer extended to providing advice as to the most effective method to protect the client’s interest in the financing transaction. The court also found that the solicitor could not undertake the retainer “without ascertaining the extent of the risk the client wished to assume in the transactions, evaluating the extent of the risks involved in the transactions and advising in that regard”. Further, the court found that the duty to advise “does not depend on advice or information being specifically sought by the client”.
Considerations that are relevant to the duty of care lawyers owe their clients in limited retainers were detailed by Chief Justice McClelland in Trust Co of Australia v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd and Others [1997] 42 NSWLR 237 [247].
“The duty of care owed by a solicitor to his client is to exercise reasonable skill and care,” Chief Justice McClelland said.
“What is required for the performance of this duty in a particular case depends on:
These cases, particularly Robert Bax, highlight the importance of lawyers turning their minds to the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 (RCCC), and how they apply to limited retainers.
The preface to the RCCC summarises the building blocks on which a lawyer’s obligations to his or her clients are built:
“Whatever legal services your lawyer is providing, he or she must —
These obligations apply equally to all legal services provided to a client — even when these are limited.
The wording of one of British Columbia’s rules of conduct for lawyers provides useful advice. It states:
“When a lawyer considers whether to provide legal services under a limited scope retainer the lawyer must carefully assess in each case whether, under the circumstances, it is possible to render those services in a competent manner. An agreement for such services does not exempt a lawyer from the duty to provide competent representation. The lawyer should consider the legal knowledge, skill, thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for the representation. The lawyer should ensure that the client is fully informed of the nature of the arrangement and clearly understands the scope and limitation of the services.”
Lawyers operating under a limited retainer will need to ensure they understand the extent of any obligations owed to the Court in any particular situation. Recent changes to the High Court Rules recognise the operation of limited retainers within the life of proceedings. Rule 5.40 (Change of representation or address for service) (1A) provides that:
“... a party who has acted in person in a proceeding without a solicitor on the record is not required to file and serve a notice of change of representation if that party wishes to continue to act in person but appoints a lawyer for a limited purpose (other than to file documents in the proceeding)”
Rule 5.40 (1A) comes into force on 24 July 2020. For example, a party may appoint a lawyer to act as the party’s advocate in a hearing or to give assistance in drafting, settling, or revising documents for filing in a proceeding”.
Some of the potential benefits of limited retainers for lawyers are:
The following is a non-exhaustive list of areas of law where it might be appropriate for a lawyer to offer services under a limited retainer. The list is indicative only, and not intended as a substitute for each lawyer’s own professional judgement. In all cases, the practitioner must consider the appropriateness of unbundling their services by having regard to the circumstances of the case, the client, the complexity of issues involved, and the relative risks and benefits (to the client and lawyer).
Unbundling your legal services for your clients can be risky. Because clients remain “in charge” of their own legal issues, responsible for proceeding their case themselves, there is a risk that they will be required to make decisions about legal matters with which they are unfamiliar. And, as the lawyer’s access to relevant information about the matter depends at least to some extent on the quality of information given to them by the client, there is potential for counsel to make incorrect assumptions about the facts.
Further, there is potential for limited retainers to cause confusion between client and lawyer about the scope of the work do be done, and who is responsible for each discrete element of the wider legal work. Confusion as to responsibility and limits on liability could lead to dissatisfied clients, complaints and potential professional negligence claims.
The risks for lawyers include:
It is essential that lawyers engaged under limited retainers clearly express what is covered by the contract for legal services and what is not, so there can be no ambiguity or alleged misunderstanding.
Lawyers also have an overarching duty to act in the best interests of their clients. Therefore, a lawyer should not agree to work under a limited retainer in circumstances where, in their professional judgement, it is inappropriate.
A limited retainer is not much different from a traditional retainer in terms of the general risk management practices a lawyer should employ. However, one added risk stems from the possibility that the client may not fully understand the limits on the lawyer’s responsibility under the unbundled retainer, and may not be able to competently complete their own tasks.
A lawyer should advise the client honestly and openly about the nature, extent and scope of the services that the lawyer can provide and whether the services can be provided within the financial means of the client. Ensure the client understands that the retainer is limited and understands the associated risks — to the client and the lawyer.
Not all clients are equal. A longstanding, sophisticated corporate client almost always presents very different considerations for unbundling than that of a first-time family law client.
Lawyers should constantly review whether a matter remains suitable for a limited retainer. For example, where there are inadequate or poor quality instructions provided by the client, further clarification from the client should be sought before continuing any assistance.
If clients give further instructions, ensure that a new letter of engagement is provided. Avoid taking on even a little bit more than outlined in your original written limited retainer without providing a new letter of engagement. “Scope creep” can lead to misunderstandings and complaints down the road.
Once a matter is concluded confirm this in writing. A completion letter serves two purposes: (1) to protect you should your client later assert that you were responsible to complete an additional step; and (2) to protect your client by reminding him or her of the responsibility to complete the legal matter from that point or give you further instructions.
The ideal client for a limited retainer to work effectively is one who is:
Clients who cannot understand the limits of the representation and associated liability, or who may not be able to perform delegated tasks, may not be appropriate clients to whom to offer unbundled services.
Limiting the scope of representation does not mean that a lawyer’s general fiduciary duty is lessened. Lawyers cannot contract out of fundamental ethical obligations. Lawyers must still meet a required standard of care, competency and confidentiality. And this remains the case when legal work is undertaken pro bono.
The Law Society Gazette recently reported that Lord Justice Jackson of Minkin fame has urged his colleagues on the bench to back solicitors who want to unbundle services. He said, ‘If you give a solicitor a limited task to do and limited costs for doing it, you can’t then blame the solicitor for not doing something else which is completely different- you can’t have your cake and eat it’ he said (‘We’ve got your back’-Jackson LJ clams unbundling fears Law Society Gazette 16 October 2017)
The Canadian Bar Association and other Canadian legal professional organizations have been undertaking significant work in this area.
The British Columbia Courthouse Library has a list of useful resources about unbundled legal services.
These resources include a Do’s and Don’ts of Unbundled Legal Services and suggested Terms of Engagement. Any modified terms of engagement in the New Zealand context would need to be consistent with the client care information requirements of the RCCC.
'Unbundling Legal Services' from the Law Society of British Columbia
The New Zealand Law Society is interested in hearing from lawyers using limited retainer models about what further resources or guidance might be useful.
NZLS would like to acknowledge the Canadian Bar Association and Law Societies of Alberta and British Columbia, for its assistance in compiling this Practice Briefing.