Could "pay as you go" help low income clients?
Family lawyers could use “unbundling” to help low income clients in future.
This would allow solicitors to be instructed on a partial retainer basis, also known as a “pay as you go” or “à la carte” service.
It can include providing clients with self-help packs, checking documents, providing advice on specific steps, and offering a Mackenzie friend.
The Law Society issued a practice note on “unbundling” for family law practitioners last week.
It highlights risks involved, such as potential professional negligence allegations arising from insufficient knowledge of the client’s situation, complying with professional indemnity insurance terms and unwittingly creating a full retainer.
It advises that solicitors be mindful of key dates, make sure the client understands the scope of service, and try to have an initial meeting with the client at their office.
Law Society president Lucy Scott-Moncrieff has previously said that unbundling could raise regulatory and insurance challenges but that these were not insurmountable.
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