Lawyer-Client Relationships - Law Society of Alberta

Home
Resource Centre
Key Resources
Lawyer-Client Relationships

These resources support assessing lawyer-client relationships, both internal and external, for suitability and help establish the scope of the relationships. They support lawyers to communicate effectively with their clients and connect with them in a professionally appropriate manner.

If you have feedback on any resource, please email Education.

Resource	Description	Topic	Audience	Format	Publisher
Untying the Knot: Withdrawing from a Client	Lawyers frequently ask the Practice Advisors whether circumstances justify firing a client. Even if the answer is yes, sometimes the lawyer is obligated to continue acting.	Suitability of Lawyer-Client Relationships	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Contingency Fee Issues	Learn about common problems relating to contingency fee matters, including contingency fee agreements that do not comply with the Rules of Court, charging fees on retainer deposits and inaccurately calculating fees on advances.	Establishing the Relationship	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Interactive Non-Engagement Letter Guide	A non-engagement letter confirms to a potential client, after a consultation or phone conversation, that the firm is unable to act on the matter.	Suitability of Lawyer-Client Relationships	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Guide, Template	Law Society of Alberta
Interactive Retainer Letter	Retainer letters are recommended practice in Alberta for non-contingency retainers.	Establishing the Relationship	Private Practice, Management, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Guide, Template	Law Society of Alberta
Top Ten Ways to Avoid Law Society Complaints	Provide your clients with realistic timelines for their matter, and update those timelines when things change.	Foster Collaboration and Trust	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Code of Conduct Course	The Law Society of Alberta’s Introduction to the Code of Conduct Course (the Course) is intended to help lawyers and students-at-law learn about many of the ethical Rules common to legal practice in Alberta. There is no cost to take the online Course. It has been recently updated to address Code amendments and new activities have been added to help demonstrate what the Rules look like in practice.	Establishing the Relationship, Suitability of Lawyer-Client Relationships	Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Private Practice, Management, Government & Non-Profit, In-House	Course	Law Society and External Collaboration
The Power of Client Feedback	Client service is a large part of a lawyer’s practice, and responding to the client’s needs strengthens the client-lawyer relationship. Learn about the benefits and approaches to seeking and implementing client feedback.	Foster Collaboration and Trust, Suitability of Lawyer-Client Relationships	Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Private Practice, Management	Article	Law Society of Alberta
Key Considerations for Establishing Effective File and Practice Management Systems	These Key Consideration documents will help develop effective file and practice management systems, which are critical to the delivery of competent legal services. These tools can be adapted to suit the needs of a lawyer’s specific practice area.	Establishing the Relationship, Ongoing Communication	Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Private Practice, Management	Checklist	Law Society of Alberta
Mastering Client Files	A Master File List is an easy and effective file tracking and file management tool. A Master File List will summarize all active files, and the status of each file, in one comprehensive document. This also allows an up-to-date assessment about next steps, financial issues and workflow planning.	Establishing the Relationship, Ongoing Communication	Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Private Practice, Management	Checklist	Law Society of Alberta

Educational resources in this section are intended for the legal profession as an aid and are not intended to constitute legal or other professional advice. Readers must exercise their professional judgment about the accuracy, utility and applicability of the material. The Law Society of Alberta and Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association (ALIA) accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions in any resource. If you find any information that is unclear, inaccurate or outdated, please send an email with details to Education.

Any information pertaining to the ALIA Group Policy contained in any resource is provided for information purposes only. The Group Policy contains other terms and conditions that may affect coverage. Subscribers to the Group Policy should always review the Group Policy, to confirm their obligations in any circumstance.

Any third-party resources are suggested for information and reference only. The Law Society and ALIA are not responsible for the accuracy, content or information contained in these sites. Views expressed in these resources are the views of the authors individually and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Law Society or ALIA.