Cancellation rights

Cancellation rights

This subtopic contains guidance and tools for law firms in relation to client cancellation rights that may apply under the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. This subtopic will help you understand whether the Regulations apply and, if they do:

•
whether you need to comply with requirements about distance contracts or off-premises contracts
•
the differences in those requirements

Which clients do the regulations apply to?

To have the benefit of cancellation rights under the Regulations your client must be an individual acting for purposes which are wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft or profession.

Which contracts do the regulations apply to?

A solicitor/client retainer is a contract for services for the purpose of the Regulations.

The Regulations will apply if your retainer falls within the definition of:

•
an off premises contract, or
•
a distance contract

See Practice Note: Different types of cancellation rights—law firms and Decision tree: does my client have cancellation rights (from 13.06.2014)

What is an off-premises contract?

The definition of off-premises contract has several alternatives:

Definition	Example
(a) Contract concluded somewhere other than

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