Client’s rights to cost estimates when instructing legal practitioners
15 January 2021
How often have you been left in the dark when it comes to estimated legal costs upon instructing legal counsel?... Often, the entire scope of legal costs are not properly conveyed to clients or explained in a vague manner, which ultimately results in frustration and a breach of trust between client and legal practitioner. To avoid uncertainty and to ensure proper transparency, the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014 (LPA), which came into effect on 1 November 2018, governs legal practitioners (attorneys and advocates) and prescribes how they must give clients upfront cost indications and confirm legal instructions before proceeding with billable legal services.