Terms of Engagement Letter

This page contains a sample copy of our standard Terms of Engagement for representation charged under an hourly rate. This would be sent to you upon application for you to sign and return. It is a legally binding contract between you and Morris Legal (Solicitors) Ltd of Central Boulevard, Blythe Valley Business Park, Solihull, West Midlands B90 8AG.

The letter contains a reference to a Client Care booklet , which we have provided for download. You may need to download and install the free Adobe Reader to view the standard terms of engagement.

Sample Letter

RE: Your Tribunal Claim.

Thank you for instructing Morris Legal (Solicitors) Ltd. I and everyone here at Morris Legal will do our best to see that everything proceeds as smoothly as possible.

We enclose a “Client Care booklet” which contains our standard Terms and Conditions of business and other useful explanatory information. It is to be read in conjunction with this letter. We urge you to take the time to read it thoroughly and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Responsibility for work

I shall carry out most of the work in this matter personally. However, should I be unavailable, you may leave a message with my secretary.

We aim to offer an efficient and effective service to all our clients and I am confident we will do so in your case. However, should there be any aspect of our service with which you are unhappy and which we cannot resolve between ourselves, you may raise the matter with Mr Dean Morris, the Senior Partner.

Fees

Our charges will be calculated mainly by reference to the time spent by me and by other Solicitors and executive staff dealing with this matter. This includes advising, attending on you and others, dealing with papers, correspondence, telephone calls, travelling and waiting time.

As I have said, I shall carry out most of the work in this matter personally and as a Partner my charge rate is £ [RATE TO BE AGREED] per hour. The charge rate that I have quoted will be reviewed and if this matter has not been concluded before the next review, the hourly rate may rise. I shall let you know the new rates that will apply to the work done from then as soon as they have been sent.

In matters such as this, it is difficult to estimate how many hours of work will be necessary to complete the matter. In this case, my provisional estimate of the final cost is something in the region of between [LOWER ESTIMATE] and [UPPER ESTIMATE] . We will of course notify you if our provisional estimate changes throughout the duration of your case.

Terms of Business

It is normal practice to ask clients to make payments on account of anticipated costs and disbursements. It is helpful if you can meet with requests promptly but if there is any difficulty, please let me know as soon as possible. In your case, may we please have £ [SUM REQUIRED ON ACCOUNT OF COSTS] on account of our costs and disbursements.

We shall deliver bills to you at regular intervals for the work carried out during the conduct of this case. This suits our cash flow and enables you to budget for costs. I am sure you will understand that in the event of a payment not being made, we must reserve the right to decline to act any further and that the full amount of work done up to that date be charged to you. Accounts should be settled within 14 days. Interest will be charged on bills that are not paid within that time at a rate of 4% above the base rate of the Nat West bank that is in effect from time to time.

In the event of non payment of outstanding fees, we obviously reserve the right to refrain from carrying out any further work until we are put in funds.

This letter and our client care booklet comprise the standard terms and conditions that form our contract with you and conform with our obligation to you imposed by the Law Society to advise at the first opportunity of the contents herein. I will write to you under separate cover to advise you on your particular matter.

Yours sincerely

Morris Legal (Solicitors) Ltd