Letter · Personal Injury & Compensation

Letter declining to act, with a warning that time limits may be running

Short letter saying the firm will not act, why in the terms the lawyer has approved, and which time limits may still be running on the facts given. It warns the person to see another lawyer quickly, and it is not a full investigation.

Kind
Letter. A letter or email you adapt and send.
Where it applies
Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales
AI use
Yellow You and the tool draft together, with you directing. You check every statement you rely on.
Law stated as at
23 October 2026
Status
Maintained. Checked on 23 October 2026 against the 10 authorities it cites, for Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.
Version
1
Source
Written for this library

When to use it

Use when the firm has decided not to act and the enquiry involves an injury. Send it promptly. Do not use it to give a long opinion on prospects. If the firm is acting, use the limitation advice letter instead.

Used for these tasks

Each task page says how far AI may help with the task and what the lawyer must review.

How AI may be used

The tool may assemble the decline letter from the reason and the clocks the lawyer has selected, and the lawyer checks both before the letter is sent.

AI may

  • Insert the lawyer's short reason for declining
  • Keep only the time-limit sentences the lawyer has marked as possibly relevant
  • List the documents to be returned

AI must not

  • Must not add a prospects opinion the lawyer has not approved
  • Must not say a claim is out of time
  • Must not omit a time-limit warning where the intake shows an injury

The lawyer checks

  • The reason for declining is accurate and does not disclose another client's confidential information (ASCR r 9)
  • Every time limit in the letter matches the current section, and inapplicable states are deleted
  • The letter is sent promptly, and original documents are returned

Method: how the Green, Yellow and Red levels are decided. This is guidance for planning, not legal advice.

Authorities

Read the full text

More in Personal Injury & Compensation

All precedents for Personal Injury & Compensation · Tasks and AI use in this area