New consumer protection regulations which came into force on 13 June will apply to solicitors’ retainers entered into on or after that date. Solicitors will need to review their standard retainers, client care letters and model agreements.
The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 impose a new statutory regulatory regime for certain consumer contracts. The new regulations apply to solicitors’ retainers, but only where the client is a consumer and the contract is entered into: on the solicitors’ premises; away from the solicitors’ premises or following discussions which have taken place there; and at a distance as part of an organised distance sales service. The regulations also extend the previous cancellation period of seven days to 14 days.
