Get your attorney-client agreement in writing: Legal Services Agreement
What is a Legal Services Agreement?
As a lawyer, you can create Legal Services Agreements to protect your business interests as you plan to perform legal work. When it is drafted correctly, this legal agreement may help to limit disputes by ensuring that there is a shared understanding between the signers.
When to use a Legal Services Agreement:
- You're an attorney who offers legal services.
- You need legal services provided by an attorney.
- You manage a law firm and need to update your documents.
How do I get my Legal Services Agreement reviewed?
If you already have a Legal Services Agreement and want to have it reviewed, or if you have questions about creating or using one, there are a few ways to get help.
Use Rocket Copilot to ask questions or review your document; this helps you better understand what it says and identify anything that may need a closer look.
If you are looking for help from a Legal Pro, you can also ask a question and receive a response within one business day, or request a more in-depth document review.
Sample Legal Services Agreement
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LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT
IDENTIFICATION OF PARTIES. This agreement, is made between , (Attorney) and , (Client).
LEGAL SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED. The legal services to be provided by Attorney to Client are as follows:
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ATTORNEY AND CLIENTS. Attorney will perform the legal services called for under this agreement, keep Client informed of progress and developments, and respond promptly to Client's inquiries and communications. Client will be truthful and cooperative with Attorney; keep Attorney reasonably informed of developments and of Client's address, telephone numbers and whereabouts; and timely make any payments required by this agreement.
COMPENSATION. Client will pay Attorney for the legal services provided under this agreement as follows:
Flat Fee. In consideration for the services to be performed by Attorney, Client agrees to pay the sum of , upon completion of the services to be performed.
rate:- per hour for services rendered by partners of the Law Firm- per hour for services rendered by associates of the Law Firm- per hour for services rendered by paralegals of the Law Firm
Attorney will charge for all activities undertaken in providing legal services to Clients under this agreement, including, but not limited to, the following: conferences, court sessions, and depositions preparation and participation; correspondence and legal documents review and preparation; legal research; and telephone conversations. When two or more of Attorney's personnel are engaged in working on the matter at the same time, such as in conferences between them, the time of each will be charged at his or her hourly rate.
Payment is expected for all services and expenses 15
If, while this agreement is in effect, Attorney increases the hourly rates being charged to clients generally for attorney's fees, that increase may be applied to fees incurred under this agreement, but only with respect to services provided 30 days or more after written notice of the increase is mailed to Clients. If Clients choose not to consent to the increased rates, Clients may terminate Attorney's services under this agreement by written notice effective when received by Attorney, provided Clients execute and return a substitution-of-attorney form immediately on its receipt from Attorney if Attorney is Clients' attorney of record in any proceeding.
Clients acknowledge that Attorney has made no promises about the total amount of attorney's fees to be incurred by Clients under this agreement.
COSTS. Clients will pay all "costs" in connection with Attorney's representation of Clients under this agreement. Costs will be advanced by Attorney and then billed to Clients unless the costs can be met out of client deposits that are applicable toward costs. Costs include, but are not limited to, court filing fees, deposition costs, expert fees and expenses, investigation costs, long-distance telephone charges, messenger service fees, photocopying expenses, and process server fees.
Of this amount, is refundable and is nonrefundable. The nonrefundable portion will be applied against attorney's fees first. If, at the termination of services under this agreement, the total amount incurred by Client for attorney's fees is less than the amount of the initial deposit, the difference, to a maximum of the refundable portion of the deposit, will be refunded to Client.
GENERAL PROVISIONS. This agreement sets forth the entire understanding of the parties. Any amendments must be in writing and signed by both parties. This agreement shall be construed under the laws of the State of . If any provision of this agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining portions of this agreement shall remain in full force and effect and construed so as to best effectuate the original intent and purpose of this agreement.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF AGREEMENT. This agreement becomes effective as of the date it is executed by the parties to do so.
The foregoing is agreed to by:
| By: | Date: |
| By: | Date: |
Legal Services Agreement FAQs
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Why is it necessary to make an Attorney Agreement?
Even if you are providing legal counsel as a favor, having a record of any agreements with those hiring you is important. Using a Legal Services Agreement most likely will be helpful to your business due to this list of benefits:
- There are no surprises about how long the engagement lasts
- Neither party is confused about the payment schedule
- Both parties know what they are responsible for
In the end, if you opt not to make a Legal Services Contract, you might not enjoy any of the aforementioned protections.
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What do lawyers cover in a contract for legal services?
Before getting started, you should prepare these critical details for the Legal Services Agreement:
- Name and address of the client
- What kind of services will be delivered
- How long the engagement will last
- How much it will cost and when payment is due
As you might expect from a contract like this, any Legal Services Agreement made with Rocket Lawyer will also include the typical legalese about the non-employer relationship between the lawyer and client, confidentiality, and lastly, reimbursement for losses. While building your contract, you also can pick which state's jurisdiction it falls under. Using the Rocket Lawyer document tool, you are able to implement additional modifications, as necessary.
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What should I do next after making a Legal Services Agreement?
After drafting your Legal Services Agreement, review it carefully. You may also want to review it with the other party to ensure all parties fully understand and agree to the terms of the agreement. Once all parties agree to the terms, the next step is to have all parties sign it, and each party should keep a copy for their records. It’s also a good idea to store it in a safe, accessible place in case you need to reference it later.
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How can I get my Legal Services Agreement checked out by another lawyer?
It’s smart to have an important agreement reviewed before you sign, so you fully understand the terms and avoid potential risks.
While some attorneys may review documents they didn’t draft, others may decline or require a retainer, hourly billing, or a flat fee. This can make getting a legal document review of your Legal Services Agreement less predictable and more time-consuming.
Rocket Lawyer makes the process simpler. With a Rocket Lawyer membership, you can request a review from a Legal Pro or ask questions about your Legal Services Agreement. You can also use Rocket Copilot to quickly review your agreement, spot potentially risky terms, and make sure everything looks accurate before signing.
Once you’re ready, you can sign your document online with RocketSign—all in one place.
