Attorney Retainer Agreement Template
A free sample attorney retainer agreement for law firms. New clients read your fee terms, add the matter details, and sign online before work starts.
Customize the pages and design to fit your needs.
About this template
A legal retainer agreement with ready terms for the scope of work, retainer deposit, hourly billing, statements and ending the representation. Each client signs online and you keep a signed PDF with an audit trail.
Common uses
- Solo attorneys and small firms
- Family, estate and business law
- New client engagement
Key features
- Fee and retainer terms
- Matter details from the client
- Signed PDF with an audit trail
What this template asks
What's your full legal name?
Short Text
What's your email address?
Email
What's your phone number?
Phone
What's your mailing address?
Short Text
Which matter are you hiring us for?
Long Text
Which fee arrangement did you agree on?
Single Choice · Hourly billing against a retainer, Flat fee, Monthly retainer
Who else should we be able to discuss this matter with?
Short Text · Optional
Retainer agreement
Agreement text, accepted with “I agree”
Sign the retainer agreement
Signature
How to use this template
Copy it
Select Use template and a copy opens in your workspace as an unpublished draft.
Make it yours
Edit any question or answer, choose a theme, and add your logo.
Share it
Publish, then send the link, show a QR code, or embed the form on your site. Responses arrive in Submissions.
Retainer agreement
Signers read this text in the form before they accept it. Edit the bracketed details to match your business, and have the wording reviewed for your situation.
Please read this before you sign.
This agreement is between [Firm name] (the "Firm") and the client named in this form.
- Scope. The Firm represents the client in the matter described above. Other matters, appeals or new claims need a new agreement.
- Retainer. The client pays a retainer of [amount], held in the Firm's trust account and applied to fees and costs as they are billed.
- Fees. The Firm bills [rate] an hour for attorneys and [rate] an hour for paralegals, or the flat fee of [amount] if selected above.
- Statements. The Firm sends a statement every [number] days. When the retainer falls below [amount], the client tops it up within [number] days.
- Costs. Court fees, filing fees, experts and other costs are paid by the client in addition to fees.
- No guarantee. The Firm cannot promise any result. Opinions about the outcome are not a guarantee.
- Ending the representation. The client can end this agreement at any time. The Firm can withdraw as the rules of professional conduct allow. Unused retainer funds are returned.
By signing below, I confirm that I have read this agreement and agree to it.
Frequently asked questions
What goes in an attorney retainer agreement?
The scope of the matter, the retainer amount, hourly or flat fees, how often you bill, who pays costs, that results aren't guaranteed and how the representation ends. Edit the bracketed terms to match your firm.
Can clients name someone else you may talk to?
Yes. Clients can add a family member or advisor you may discuss the matter with, recorded in the signed agreement.
Is this retainer agreement valid in every state?
It's a sample to start from, not legal advice. Fee agreement rules differ by state, so check the terms against your state's rules of professional conduct.