Vulnerable clients—regulatory requirements

Published by a LexisNexis Practice Compliance expert

Practice notes

Vulnerable clients—regulatory requirements

Published by a LexisNexis Practice Compliance expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note sets out the regulatory requirements when acting for vulnerable clients. It also explains the importance of ensuring you maintain a proper record of the client care arrangements you have in place and are able to show these are appropriate.

This Practice Note provides guidance on adult vulnerable clients. It does not provide specific guidance in relation to minors.

For more information, see Practice Note: How to identify and respond to the needs of vulnerable clients.

What is a vulnerable client?

There is no clear definition of ‘vulnerable client’ for the purpose of law firms.

The SRA Standards and Regulations contain very few references to vulnerable clients (see section SRA requirements), favouring a more general requirement to take account of clients’ attributes, needs and circumstances.

For this reason, Precedent: Client care manual does not use the term ‘vulnerability’ or ‘vulnerable client’. Instead, it emphasises the obligation to take account of clients’ attributes, needs and circumstances and contains a detailed section on identifying and responding to clients with particular attributes, needs or circumstances.

For more information,