{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974/section-65",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974/section-65.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1974/47",
  "legislation_title": "Solicitors Act 1974",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/solicitors-act-1974",
  "path": "section/65",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "65",
  "heading": "Security for costs and termination of retainer.",
  "text": "(1) A solicitor may take security from his client for his costs, to be ascertained by assessment or otherwise, in respect of any contentious business to be done by him.\n(2) If a solicitor who has been retained by a client to conduct contentious business requests the client to make a payment of a sum of money, being a reasonable sum on account of the costs incurred or to be incurred in the conduct of that business and the client refuses or fails within a reasonable time to make that payment, the refusal or failure shall be deemed to be a good cause whereby the solicitor may, upon giving reasonable notice to the client, withdraw from the retainer.",
  "extent": "E+W",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Word in s. 65(1) substituted (1.1.2010) by Legal Services Act 2007 (c. 29), ss. 177, 211, Sch. 16 para. 61 (with ss. 29, 192, 193); S.I. 2009/3250, art. 2(f)(ii) (with art. 9)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C1",
      "text": "S. 65 extended (1.1.1992) by Administration of Justice Act 1985 (c. 61, SIF 34), s. 9, Sch. 2 para. 22(2); S.I. 1991/2683, art.2 S. 65 extended (22.5.2000) by S.I. 2000/1119, regs. 1, 37(3), Sch. 4 para. 7(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "C",
      "label": "C2",
      "text": "Ss. 64-67 applied (with modifications) (23.12.2011) by The Legal Services Act 2007 (Designation as a Licensing Authority) (No. 2) Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/2866), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 paras. 1, 3, 5"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/47/section/65",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T10:43:05.522324+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}