The obligations a solicitor owes beyond the client — from fair dealing and honest communication to binding undertakings — which protect third parties and the integrity of legal work.
A solicitor's professional duties do not stop at the retainer, and breaching those owed to outsiders can be just as serious as failing a client. This chapter begins with the duty not to take unfair advantage, including dealings with unrepresented parties and the misuse of threats of criminal proceedings, before turning to the standards governing communications with third parties and the duty not to mislead — whether by half-truth or omission. It then examines undertakings: what makes a promise binding, why client default is no excuse, and the consequences of breach. The final sections cover the tortious duty of care to non-clients, most notably disappointed beneficiaries, the rules on witnesses and expert evidence, and the proper handling of confidential information, mistakenly disclosed documents and liability for agents' fees.
