Lawyer-Client Relationships - Law Society of Alberta

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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.

Resource	Description	Topic	Audience	Format	Publisher
Bridging the Gap	All too often, lawyers or their clients adopt a “my way or the highway” mentality. This type of approach tends to be counter-productive when trying to determine how to best resolve a dispute.	Establishing the Relationship, Foster Collaboration and Trust	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Guide	Law Society of Alberta
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
Client Communication Toolkit: Client Service	Clients have a myriad of different needs and preferences, so there is no single right way to offer or provide legal services.	Establishing the Relationship, Ongoing Communication	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Client Communication Toolkit: Legal Fees	By highlighting common pitfalls, best practices and recent developments, our goal is to help you meet your clients’ expectations and achieve a more successful, satisfying practice for yourself.	Establishing the Relationship, Ongoing Communication	Private Practice, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm	Guide	Law Society of Alberta
Simply Speaking	It’s hard not to fall into the legalese trap. From law school onwards, lawyers are conditioned to write and speak using academic language and legal terminology.	Ongoing Communication, Foster Collaboration and Trust	Private Practice, Management, In-House, Sole Practitioner & Small Firm, Government & Non-Profit	Article, Guide	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