Must a paralegal provide a termination letter if retained for limited services?

A termination letter serves as an important formal communication between a paralegal and a client at the end of a paralegal-client relationship, regardless of whether the services were limited or extensive. This letter provides a clear record that the professional relationship has concluded, which is crucial for both parties.

In the context of limited services, providing a termination letter ensures that the client understands that the specific services they initially engaged the paralegal for are now completed. It also protects the paralegal by clearly outlining that their responsibility has ended, reducing the risk of future claims or misunderstandings regarding ongoing obligations.

Additionally, formal communication like a termination letter plays a role in maintaining professional standards and transparency, which aligns with ethical practices in the legal field. Therefore, when a paralegal is retained for limited services, issuing a termination letter is indeed a required and prudent step to finalize the professional engagement.