Set forth the terms of engagement with a client: Attorney Engagement Letter
What is an Attorney Engagement Letter?
Lawyers and clients use Attorney Engagement Letters for the purpose of documenting the details of legal services to be delivered. By agreeing to this contract with each other, you and the client will know what to expect.
When to use an Attorney Engagement Letter:
- You are a lawyer or law firm providing services to another business or individual.
- You will be contracting with a lawyer or law firm to receive legal services.
Sample Attorney Engagement Letter
The terms in your document will update based on the information you provide
ATTORNEY ENGAGEMENT LETTER
. 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 CLIENT. 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 Client 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 Client 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 Client. If Client chooses not to consent to the increased rates, Client may terminate Attorney's services under this agreement by written notice effective when received by Attorney, provided Client executes and return a substitution-of-attorney form immediately on its receipt from Attorney if Attorney is Client's attorney of record in any proceeding.
Client acknowledges that Attorney has made no promises about the total amount of attorney's fees to be incurred by Client under this agreement.
. COSTS. Client will pay all "costs" in connection with Attorney's representation of Client under this agreement. Costs will be advanced by Attorney and then billed to Client 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: |
Attorney Engagement Letter FAQs
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Why should a lawyer always use an Engagement Letter?
No matter how small the job, it is important to capture the details of any commitments to the client in writing. You may decide that you want to use this document due to the fact that, when done correctly, it yields this list of helpful benefits:
- Roles and responsibilities are understood by all
- Everyone knows when billing will happen
- The duration of the engagement is agreed upon
Any lawyer deciding against making an Attorney Engagement Letter should brace themselves for common issues like unrealistic requests and overdue invoices.
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Is an Engagement Letter required?
State laws differ on the requirement for an Engagement Letter. In certain states, legal services that are expected to cost less than $1,000, for example, do not require an Engagement Letter. However, even when Engagement Letters are not required, they are still considered to be best practice, as they provide a writing to point back to in case of a future disagreement or potential misunderstandings.
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Who prepares an Engagement Letter?
After drafting your Attorney Engagement Letter, 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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Where can I get my Attorney Engagement Letter checked out by an attorney?
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 Attorney Engagement Letter 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 Attorney Engagement Letter. 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.