The duty in context
Diligence and timeliness practice
The lawyer must deliver services diligently and as promptly as reasonably possible and must promptly warn the client if work cannot be completed in time.
How the codes express this duty
E&W Solicitors SRA Principles & Code CCS 3.2 strong 207 cases
3.2 You ensure that the service you provide to clients is competent and delivered in a timely manner.
SRA Code of Conduct for Solicitors, RELs and RFLs · 2019 · archived copy · official source ↗
E&W Barristers BSB Handbook rC18; gC38.4 strong 3 cases
rC18 Your duty to provide a competent standard of work and service to each client (CD7) includes a duty to inform your professional client, or your client ... if: .1 it becomes apparent to you that you will not be able to carry out the instructions within the time requested ...; or .2 there is an appreciable risk that you may not be able to undertake the instructions.
BSB Handbook Part 2: Code of Conduct · 5.0 · archived copy · official source ↗
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code 2026 R.4.4 strong
An attorney-at-law shall attend to all client affairs with diligence and answer all correspondence within the timescales agreed with the client or, if no such timescales have been agreed, within a reasonable time.
Cayman Islands Legal Services Code of Professional Conduct · 2026 · archived copy
AU Solicitors Solicitors' Conduct Rules Rule 4.1.3 strong 51 cases
A solicitor must also:... 4.1.3 deliver legal services competently, diligently and as promptly as reasonably possible.
Australian Solicitors' Conduct Rules · 2015 (June 2026 compilation) · archived copy · official source ↗
AU Barristers Uniform Barristers Rules rr56,105 strong 22 cases
A barrister: (a) must seek to ensure that the barrister does work which the barrister is briefed to do in sufficient time to enable compliance with orders, directions, Rules or practice notes of the court; and (b) if the barrister has reasonable grounds to believe that the barrister may not complete any such work on time must promptly inform the instructing solicitor or the client.
Legal Profession Uniform Conduct (Barristers) Rules · 2015 (as amended 14 May 2025) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Solicitors Law Society Guide Ch2 — Proper standard of legal services: General; Failure to reply to letters partial 31 cases
They should treat clients with respect and carry out instructions in a courteous and professional manner... A solicitor should reply to correspondence and should return phone calls in a timely manner.
Solicitor's Guide to Professional Conduct (Law Society of Ireland) · 4th ed. (2022) · archived copy · official source ↗
IE Barristers Bar Code of Conduct Rule 2.13; Rule 3.19 strong 31 cases
It is the duty of Barristers at all times to ensure that their practice is efficiently and properly administered and, in particular, they must take all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure that their Court engagements are properly fulfilled.
Code of Conduct for the Bar of Ireland · 2024 · archived copy · official source ↗
JM Attorneys Canons of Professional Ethics Canon IV(r); Canon IV(s) strong 142 cases
An Attorney shall deal with his client's business with all due expedition ... [IV(s)] In the performance of his duties an Attorney shall not act with inexcusable or deplorable negligence or neglect.
Legal Profession (Canons of Professional Ethics) Rules · 1978 (principal) · archived copy · official source ↗
JE Lawyers Law Society of Jersey Code R.1.5 strong
Members shall attend to all client affairs with diligence and answer all correspondence within the timescales agreed with the client or, if no such timescales have been agreed, within a reasonable time.
Law Society of Jersey Code of Conduct · 1 January 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
ON Lawyers LSO Rules of Prof. Conduct r 3.2-1; r 3.1-1(e) strong
3.2-1 ... The quality of service required of a lawyer is service that is competent, timely, conscientious, diligent, efficient and civil. [3.1-1(e): performing all functions conscientiously, diligently, and in a timely and cost-effective manner. 3.1-2 cmt 12: a lawyer should make every effort to provide timely service to the client ... If the lawyer can reasonably foresee undue delay ... the client should be so informed.]
Law Society of Ontario — Rules of Professional Conduct · current · archived copy · official source ↗
BC Lawyers BC Code r 3.2-1, commentary [4] strong 5 cases
A lawyer should ensure that matters are attended to within a reasonable time frame. If the lawyer can reasonably foresee undue delay in providing advice or services, the lawyer has a duty to so inform the client, so that the client can make an informed choice about his or her options, such as whether to retain new counsel.
Code of Professional Conduct for British Columbia (BC Code) · 2017 · archived copy · official source ↗
NZ Lawyers Conduct & Client Care Rules r 3 / r 3.3 strong
In providing regulated services to a client, a lawyer must always act competently and in a timely manner consistent with the terms of the retainer ... A lawyer must inform the client if there are any material and unexpected delays in a matter.
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Conduct and Client Care) Rules 2008 · SR 2008/214 · archived copy · official source ↗
SCO Solicitors LSS Standards of Conduct B1.10 partial 11 cases
Competence, diligence and appropriate skills
Law Society of Scotland — Practice Rules 2011, Rule B1 (Standards of Conduct) · 2011 · archived copy · official source ↗
SG Lawyers Professional Conduct Rules 2015 r 5 (Honesty, competence and diligence) strong 8 cases
5 Honesty, competence and diligence
Legal Profession (Professional Conduct) Rules 2015 · 2015 · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Solicitors Solicitors' Guide Principle 6.01(b) / Principle 5.12 strong
A solicitor must serve his client in a conscientious, diligent, prompt and efficient manner. ... A solicitor who has accepted instructions on behalf of a client is bound to carry out those instructions with diligence and must exercise reasonable care and skill.
Hong Kong Solicitors' Guide to Professional Conduct (Volume 1) · current · archived copy · official source ↗
HK Barristers Bar Code of Conduct para 10.5 strong
A practising barrister must in all his professional activities act promptly, conscientiously and diligently and with reasonable competence and must take all reasonable and practicable steps to ensure that professional engagements are fulfilled punctually.
Code of Conduct of the Bar of the Hong Kong SAR · 2018 · archived copy · official source ↗
Cases dealing with this duty
459 decisions · link basis: found breached = a tribunal finding; rule cited = the mapped provision is cited in the decision; text match = high-precision text pattern
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W. Anthony Pearson
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 12, 2019. || Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered June 18, 2020. || Application for Suspension of Order Refused | D…
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James Edward Turner
Rule 4-29 Admission of Misconduct and Undertaking | Summary
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Travis Keith Sturgeon
Guilty of professional misconduct
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Richard D. Bonner
Fined, Reimbursement ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 27, 2019. | Formal Order View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 151/2018 IN THE MATTER OF…
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Raymond Clough
Suspended, Fined - Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 26, 2019. | Guilty of Professional Misconduct - Disciplinary Committee decision May 11, 2019. | Formal Order July 26, 2019 View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCI…
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Keith A. Jarrett
Suspended, Restitution Ordered | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 15, 2019. || Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered June 27, 2019. View PDF FORMAL ORDER OF THE DISC…
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Raymond Clough
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered May 11, 2019. || Suspended, Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered July 26, 2019. || Formal Order July 26, 2019 View PDF DECISION …
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Leslie Roy Campbell
Reprimanded, Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered March 26, 2019. View PDFs Decision Formal Order DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 62/2017 BETWEEN GEORGE ROB…
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Lorraine Louise Ramson
Guilty of Professional Misconduct, Restitution Ordered, Suspension | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered March 23, 2019. View PDF JUDGMENT OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL IN THE MATTER O…
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Janice A. Causwell
Appeal allowed, Committee Decision Reinstated | Privy Council decision delivered March 11, 2019. View PDF Hilary Term [2019] UKPC 9 Privy Council Appeal No 0037 of 2017 JUDGMENT Causwell (Respondent) v The General Legal…
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Howard A. Lettman
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered March 09, 2019. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 124/2015 IN THE MATTER OF PATRICIA…
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John Leonard Turner
Breaches, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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Wright, Linda Margaret
Unethical conduct in misleading client and causing delay in conduct of client's matter — Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
Reprimand $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision -
Lyndsey Clarke
In the matter of Lyndsey Clarke, solicitor, practising as Keith Flynn & Company, 414 The Capel Building, Mary’s Street, Dublin 7, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 [2017/DT46 and High Court record 2018 …
strike_off View decision -
Keith Flynn
In the matter of Keith Flynn, practising as Keith Flynn & Company, 414 The Capel Building, Mary’s Street, Dublin 7, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 [2017/DT46 and High Court record 2018 no 99 SA] Law …
strike_off View decision -
Neil Corbett
In the matter of Neil Corbett, a solicitor formerly practising as principal of Neil Corbett Solicitors, Davis Building, Lower Main Street, Mallow, Co Cork, and in the matter of an application by the Law Society of Irela…
conditions View decision -
Jennifer Messado
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered September 15, 2018. || Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered October 08, 2018 - Sanction Hearing. View PDF DECISION OF THE D…
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Imelda Leahy
In the matter of Imelda Leahy, a solicitor formerly practising as Imelda Leahy and Company, Solicitors, Kilree Street, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, and in the matter of an application by the Law Society of Ireland to the So…
strike_off View decision -
Imelda Leahy
In the matter of Imelda Leahy, a solicitor formerly practising as Imelda Leahy and Company, Solicitors, Kilree Street, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, and in the matter of an application by the Law Society of Ireland to the So…
strike_off View decision -
Helen Lucey
In the matter of Helen Lucey, a solicitor practising as principal of Marshall & MacAulay Solicitors, The Square, Listowel, Co Kerry, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2015 [3012/DT106/12; 3012/DT20/14; High …
conditions View decision -
Howard A. Lettman
Struck off | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered February 05, 2018. || Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered June 24, 2017. View PDF HAZEL HANSON vs HOWARD LETTMAN SANCTIONS…
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Major Singh-Raud
Breaches, Client Money, Solicitors' Accounts Rules
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Maurice Frankson
Guilty of Professional Misconduct | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered December 19, 2017. || RESULT: Fined | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered January 4, 2018. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMIT…
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Howard A. Lettman
Suspended | Disciplinary Committee decision delivered November 25, 2017. View PDF DECISION OF THE DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL LEGAL COUNCIL COMPLAINT NO: 62/2110 IN THE MATTER OF RUDOLF CAMPBELL and HOWARD LET…
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de Robillard, Roger (Aka Christian)
Breach of Rules 54 to 56 of the Legal Profession Conduct (Barristers) Rules 2015 - duty to opponent — Unsatisfactory Professional Conduct
Reprimand $0.00 About About the OLSC The Commissioner History Mission statement Structure Contact Contact the OLSC Give us your feedback: online surveys Access to information (GIPAA) Community information Information for lawyers Fact sheets FAQs Other regulatory and complaint-handling organisations Contact LawAccess NSW for legal information " You and Your Lawyer", Hot Topics 78 Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW , provides access to information about the law in NSW regarding your lawyer Privacy Copyright and Disclaimer Website accessibility View decision
Duty classification does not yet cover every jurisdiction (Ontario, New Zealand and Singapore decisions are indexed but not yet duty-classified), so counts here understate those corpora.