Rule 52 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners
Rule 52 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023 is about Fixing the amount of the fee. It is under Part VI (Remuneration and Fees) of Chapter 1 (Conduct) of the Rules. It provides as follows:
(1) The professional fees charged by a lawyer for his services shall be reasonable and commensurate with the service rendered.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of this rule, a reduced fee or no fee may be charged on ground of the special relationship or indigence of a client, in strict compliance with the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Order.
(3) Subject to the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Order, in determining the amount of the fee, a lawyer may take into account all or any of the following considerations in ascertaining the value of the service rendered—
(a) the time and labour required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved and the skill required to conduct the cause properly ;
(b) whether the acceptance of employment in the particular case will preclude the lawyer’s appearance for others in cases likely to arise out of the transaction, and in which there is a reasonable expectation that otherwise he would be employed :
(c) whether the acceptance of the employment will involve the loss of other employment while employed in the particular case of antagonisms with other clients ;
(d) the customary charges of the Bar for similar services ;
(e) the amount involved in controversy and the benefits resulting to the client from the services;
(f) the contingency or the certainty of the compensation ; and
(g) the character of the employment, whether casual or for an established or constant client.
