The Law Society has published guidance for solicitors on how to act pre-emptively in relation to climate change risk faced by their own firms and how this impacts the issues that solicitors will need to consider when advising clients.
This is the first climate sector-specific guidance to be issued by the Law Society. It follows the Law Society's Climate Change Resolution of October 2021, pursuant to which the Law Society committed to provide guidance to solicitors on how to take into account the impact of any given matter upon the climate crisis in a way which is compatible with their professional duties.
In addition to providing advice on how to measure and reduce the different greenhouse gas emissions associated with legal business operation, the guidance also makes clear that the onus is on solicitors to ensure that climate-related risk is addressed appropriately when advising clients. Helpfully, the Law Society has provided guidance as to best practice on approaching climate-related legal issues in the context of both new instructions and the solicitor and client relationship more broadly.
You can read the guidance in full at this link: Impact of climate change on solicitors | The Law Society