Q&As

When and how can I terminate my retainer?

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Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Published by a LexisNexis Practice Compliance expert
Published on: 07 March 2022
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This Q&A is intended for law firms. It deals with when you can terminate your retainer. Incorrectly terminating a retainer can have serious consequences. You will not be entitled to be paid for any work done on the Client’s matter and you could be subject to Disciplinary Sanctions by the SRA. See also: Can I close down my relationship with Russian clients—law firms?

Incorrectly terminating a retainer can have serious consequences, eg you:

  1. •

    are not entitled to be paid for any of the work done on the client's matter

  2. •

    could be subject to disciplinary sanctions by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

Requirements about terminating the retainer can largely be found in the Solicitors Act 1974 and case law. There is a unified message: to terminate a retainer you must have good cause and you must give reasonable notice to the client.

No entitlement to be paid

A retainer is normally an entire contract under which you agree to do certain work for the client. If you wrongfully terminate the retainer

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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
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Key definition:
Client definition
What does Client mean?

The person(s) on whose behalf the firm is providing a service.

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