# 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.

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.

Canonical: https://reuily.com/templates/retainer-agreement
Use this template: https://reuily.com/form/from-template/retainer-agreement
Collections: Agreements & Waivers, Professional Services, Legal
Last updated: 2026-10-24

## Questions

- Question 1: What's your full legal name? (Short Text, required)
- Question 2: What's your email address? (Email, required)
- Question 3: What's your phone number? (Phone, required)
- Question 4: What's your mailing address? (Short Text, required)
- Question 5: Which matter are you hiring us for? (Long Text, required)
- Question 6: Which fee arrangement did you agree on? (Single Choice, required). Options: Hourly billing against a retainer; Flat fee; Monthly retainer
- Question 7: Who else should we be able to discuss this matter with? (Short Text, optional)
- Agreement: Retainer agreement, accepted with "I agree" (full text below)
- Question 8: Sign the retainer agreement (Signature, required)

Signing records the signer's consent, email, IP address, browser and signing time, and each signer can download a signed PDF copy.

## Retainer agreement

Please read this before you sign.

This agreement is between **[Firm name]** (the "Firm") and the client named in this form.

1. **Scope.** The Firm represents the client in the matter described above. Other matters, appeals or new claims need a new agreement.
2. **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.
3. **Fees.** The Firm bills **[rate]** an hour for attorneys and **[rate]** an hour for paralegals, or the flat fee of **[amount]** if selected above.
4. **Statements.** The Firm sends a statement every **[number]** days. When the retainer falls below **[amount]**, the client tops it up within **[number]** days.
5. **Costs.** Court fees, filing fees, experts and other costs are paid by the client in addition to fees.
6. **No guarantee.** The Firm cannot promise any result. Opinions about the outcome are not a guarantee.
7. **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.

## 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

## 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.