A retainer agreement is a long-term work-for-hire contract between a company and a client that retains ongoing services from you (as a consulting business) and provides you with a stable amount of payments.
Retainer agreements (also referred to as representation agreements) are a type of compensation agreement with lawyers either for reserving their employment or as compensation for future services. Also inside the agreement are details on the scope and procedure for the representation.
Under Rule 13, a solicitor must only terminate a retainer if there is 'just cause' and 'reasonable notice'. Rule 13.2 and 13.3 add further requirements for solicitors representing clients facing serious criminal charges or where a client's legal aid has been withdrawn.
If either you or your attorney terminate the relationship before the retainer is exhausted, and if allowed by the agreement and applicable laws, the remaining portion of the retainer may be refundable. Ensure the termination terms in your agreement are clear and consult a legal professional if needed.
The retainer agreement does not bind you to your lawyer. You can terminate the client-attorney relationship at any time.
Requirements about terminating the retainer can largely be found in the Solicitors Act 1974 and case law. There is a unified message: to terminate a retainer you must have good cause and you must give reasonable notice to the client.