Section 5 Termination of Attorney-Client Relationship

• Library: Prof Liability 2005

A client may terminate the attorney-client relationship at any time, with or without just cause. The Plaza Shoe Store, Inc. v. Hermel, Inc., 636 S.W.2d 53, 58 (Mo. banc 1982). Although Missouri once followed the rule that the contract between attorney and client is governed by the same rules as any other employment contract, this is no longer the case. Id. at 56.

Missouri now subscribes to the view that the attorney-client relationship is peculiar in the level of trust involved and falls outside the boundaries of the normal employment contract. Id. at 57. Therefore, if at any time a client becomes dissatisfied with the attorney, the client may...