Understanding Your Scope Report
After your consultation, your lawyer reviews and approves an AI-generated scope report before sending it to you. This report is the foundation of your legal matter - it defines what work will be done, when, and for how much.
The Mandatory Disclaimer
Every scope report shows this disclaimer at the top:
"This scope was generated with AI assistance and has been reviewed and approved by your solicitor. It does not constitute legal advice."
What this means:
- The eSolicitors AI engine generated a draft scope from the consultation transcript
- Your solicitor reviewed the draft, edited where necessary, and approved it
- Your solicitor takes professional responsibility for the approved scope
- The scope is a plan of work - not legal advice in itself. The legal advice is what your solicitor delivers as part of that work.
What the Scope Contains
Case Summary
A plain-English description of your legal matter as understood by your solicitor. Read this carefully - if it does not accurately describe your situation, message your solicitor before proceeding.
Advising Jurisdiction
The specific jurisdiction your solicitor is advising on (e.g., "England & Wales", "New York State", "Scotland"). Important if you have a cross-border matter.
Pricing Model
How your matter will be charged. The platform supports multiple pricing models:
| Pricing Model | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Fixed Fee | You pay a set amount regardless of time taken |
| Hourly | You buy blocks of time; usage is logged |
| Conditional Fee | Only payable if a specific outcome is achieved |
| Retainer | Pre-paid fund drawn down as work progresses |
| Percentage of Value | A percentage of recovered amount or transaction value |
| Instalment | Fixed payment schedule regardless of delivery timing |
Milestones
The work is broken into stages. Each milestone shows:
- Title - what will be delivered
- Description - detail of the work
- Amount - how much is held in escrow for this milestone
- Due date - when the lawyer will deliver (or "open-ended" if genuinely unknowable)
Example milestone structure for a property transaction:
- Initial review and advice on title - £400 - due 7 May
- Draft contract review - £600 - due 14 May
- Exchange and completion - £800 - due 28 May
Your Next Steps (Client Actions)
A list of things you need to do before the lawyer can begin work, such as:
- Gather and upload specific documents
- Confirm certain facts or decisions
- Obtain specific third-party information
Total Cost
The total of all milestones. This is the amount you pay into escrow when you accept the scope.
What If I Disagree with the Scope?
If the scope does not accurately reflect your matter, or you disagree with the proposed approach or cost:
- Message your solicitor via the platform's messaging system - explain your concerns
- Your solicitor can edit and re-send the scope for your review
- You are under no obligation to accept the scope as presented
You do not pay anything until you click "Accept & Hire." Reviewing and discussing the scope is free.
Scope Deadline
Your lawyer has a 24-hour window to approve and send the scope after the consultation. If you do not receive your scope within 24 hours:
- Your lawyer may have requested a deadline extension (up to 3 extensions, max 10 days total)
- If the deadline has passed without response, you will be notified and the matter may be escalated to admin
The AI Disclaimer in Detail
The scope was generated by the eSolicitors AI engine from the consultation transcript. The AI reads the transcript and produces a structured scope with suggested milestones, pricing model, and costs.
Your solicitor is responsible. They review every line before approving. The AI is a productivity tool - the solicitor's professional judgement governs the final scope.
The disclaimer is required under SRA guidance on AI use in legal practice and is non-removable.