What must the mandatory notice to clients include?

• A. A note about potential fee increases.
• B. A statement of the client's rights to assessment and to set aside the costs agreement, with time limits, included in the bill, except for sophisticated clients.
• C. A commitment to refund if the client is dissatisfied.
• D. A warning that the client cannot challenge the costs.

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is that a costs disclosure is about informing the client of their rights regarding the costs they are being charged. The mandatory notice must clearly state that the client has rights to have the costs assessed and to set aside or challenge the costs agreement, and it must set out the time limits for taking those steps. Importantly, it should appear with the bill so the client sees it as costs are presented. There is an exception for sophisticated clients, who are considered capable of handling costs without this extra notice.

This is why the correct option is best: it captures the essential rights-based information, the requirement to disclose them at the point of invoicing, and the time limits, plus the exception for sophisticated clients. The other options describe items that are not part of the mandatory notice—fee increase notes, refunds for dissatisfaction, or a blanket warning that challenges are not allowed—so they don't fit the purpose of the statutory notice.