Vulnerable clients

Vulnerable clients

Solicitors and law firms often provide legal services to clients who are going through some of the most difficult times in their lives. Some of these clients may be vulnerable and it is essential that they are able to exercise their rights in the same way as anyone else.

There are several regulatory requirements to be aware of in relation to vulnerable clients. It is important to identify and respond to their particular attributes, needs and circumstances to facilitate effective access to justice.

What is a vulnerable client?

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

An SRA report: Providing services to people who are vulnerable, published before the introduction of the SRA Standards and Regulations in 2019, says that a person with a vulnerability is usually described as someone who is at a higher risk of harm than others. However, the SRA then goes on to discuss the statutory term ‘vulnerable adult’, for whom the state has specific safeguarding responsibilities before concluding that ‘[t]he statutory definition is very specific, but should not be your only consideration when thinking about how a person might

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