Please note that referrals from PLIAN’s Lawyer Referral Service and the Journey Project may not be considered short-term summary legal services because: i) there is a related fee; and ii) there is an expectation by the lawyer and/or the client that the lawyer could potentially continue to provide legal services beyond the referral.

In order to avoid uncertainty and the potential for conflicts of interest, the Law Society and PLIAN recommend that all clients received through PLIAN’s Lawyer Referral Service or the Journey Project are properly documented and that relevant conflict checks are undertaken prior to consultations or otherwise engaging in the practice of law on behalf of a client.

Lawyers participating in legal clinics facilitated by PLIAN or other organizations should also be aware that some legal clinics may not be considered short-term summary legal services if: i) there is a fee or compensation paid to the lawyer for participation in the clinic; or ii) if there is an expectation by the lawyer and/or the client that the lawyer could potentially continue to provide legal services beyond the legal clinic appointment. Lawyers participating in legal clinics should inquire with the clinic organizer prior to participation to confirm details about fees or compensation and if there is any expectation of possible continued legal services after the clinic.