Limited scope representation is when a lawyer agrees to take on only some part of a client’s matter. In the litigation context, attorneys providing limited scope representation must often file a notice with the court that they are representing the client only for a limited purpose.
Limited scope representation often arises when parties want to represent themselves for their matter in general, but require an attorney for certain matters. Parties will often retain attorneys for limited scope representation in divorces. For example, in In re Marriage of Tsatryan, in the California Court of Appeals, one party filed a notice of limited scope representation to have an attorney represent her only for matters involving division of property and a request for restraining orders.
[Last updated in November of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]