LEGL1001 LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING

LETTER TO CLIENT – SAMPLE LETTER

MODULE 3: WRITING THE LAW

Ace Personal Injury Lawyers

123 Litigation Avenue
Bilinga QLD 4225 Commented [GD1]: Firm details

20 November 2023 Commented [GD2]: Date

Our ref: GD-123 Commented [GD3]: Reference number

Mrs Julie and Mr Nathan Sunshine

1159 Coast Road
Palm Beach QLD 4221 Commented [GD4]: Client details

Dear Mr and Ms Sunshine Commented [GD5]: Salutation

Re: Appeal of Simon’s negligence claim Commented [GD6]: Subject line

Thank you for meeting with us last week to discuss your legal options following your son Simon’s
rollerblading injury. We write to confirm your instructions and to set out the key legal issues in your
case. Commented [GD7]: Introductory paragraph

You explained that your 10-year-old son Simon was rollerblading at Coolangatta Beach when he was
struck from behind by a cyclist. Simon was not wearing a protective helmet and he sustained head
injuries. We understand that the local council recently changed the signage, so that cyclists and
rollerbladers now share a lane on the path; previously, cyclists had their own lane. Your legal action
against the cyclist for negligence was successful. However, the court reduced the damages that it
awarded to Simon by 70% because he was not wearing a helmet while rollerblading.

You have asked us to advise you:

 whether you should appeal the court’s decision; and
 if so, whether your appeal is likely to succeed. Commented [GD8]: These paragraphs confirm the client’s
instructions
The key legal issue that we need to look into to give you this advice is known as ‘contributory
negligence’. There are three elements:
 Did Simon take reasonable care to protect his own safety?
 Was Simon’s injury partly caused by his own behaviour?
 Was it reasonably foreseeable that Simon would suffer the injuries that he did from his
behaviour? Commented [GD9]: These paragraphs set out the legal
issues.
Please contact the office manager, Ms Helle Met, on (07) 4839 5893 or helle.met@acelawyers.com.au
to arrange a time for a further consultation with us. Commented [GD10]: This paragraph asks the clients to
contact the office manager to arrange a time for a further
consultation.
We look forward to meeting with you again to discuss our advice on the above issues.

Yours sincerely
Alex Skye
Alex Skye
Partner, Ace Personal Injury Lawyers Commented [GD11]: Sign-off and signature