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Employment Contract

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EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I/we , the undersigned, hereinafter referred to as “Client”, do hereby retain and employ P.C., attorneys, hereinafter “Attorneys”, as my true and lawful attorneys in prosecuting and handling Client’s claim or claims for damages against and any and all persons, business entities, or other insurance companies or corporations who may be liable at law as a result of an injury (or death) or claim which occurred on or about , with exclusive right to prosecute; file suit; settle; adjust; or compromise the said claim or claims; to execute all documents pertaining thereto; to execute my/our name to such documents as they deem necessary; and to do all lawful things requisite for handling, prosecuting or resolving my/our claim or claims.

Client agrees that in consideration of the rendering of such services that Attorneys shall be entitled to receive a fee equal to thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the total amount of all sums recovered, which includes money and/or the cost or present/fair market value of anything or any contract or right recovered or realized as part of the settlement, adjustment, compromise or verdict obtained on said claim or claims, plus reimbursement of all cost advances made by Attorneys. In the event that a lawsuit is filed, then Client agrees that in consideration of the rendering of such services that Attorneys shall be entitled to a fee equal to forty percent (40%) of the total amount of all sums recovered, which includes money and/or the cost or present/fair market value of anything or any contract or right recovered or realized as part of the settlement, adjustment, compromise or verdict obtained on said claim or claims, plus reimbursement of all cost advances made by Attorneys.

In the event of an appeal to any Appellate Court by the opposing side or by my/our attorneys, Client agrees that Attorneys shall be entitled to a fee equal to forty-five percent (45%) of any gross recovery made on Clients behalf as their additional fee for handling such appeal, plus reimbursement of all cost advances made by them in the prosecution of Client’s claim or claims.

Client authorizes Attorneys to expend, advance, or incur all costs and expenses reasonably necessary in the prosecution of client’s claim, including costs and expenses for investigators, expert witnesses, other attorneys, research services, internet access and usage, data reporting services, depositions, court costs, medical records, pictures, exhibits, travel, preparation of transcripts for appeal, printing or binding of briefs, copying costs, telephone charges, fax charges, legal research charges, subpoenas, etc. Client agrees that all such costs and expenses shall be reimbursed to Attorneys by Client.

Client agrees that Attorneys, in their sole discretion, may associate other attorneys to assist Attorneys in prosecuting Client’s claim or to be co-counsel in pursuing Client’s claim. Client agrees to fully cooperate with and assist these attorneys in prosecuting such claim.

Attorneys agree to charge nothing for their professional services rendered in the prosecuting of this claim if there are no sums recovered.

Client agrees that Attorneys may withdraw from representation of Client in this claim at any time, on reasonable notice to Client.

If Client discharges Attorneys, then Client agrees to pay to Attorneys their full attorney’s fee plus reimbursement of all costs and expenses where such settlement or recovery is made without the assistance of substitute counsel. If Client discharges attorneys and obtains a recovery with the assistance of substitute counsel or if Attorneys withdraw from representing Client at any time, then Client agrees to pay Attorneys thirty-five percent (35%) of the total amount of all sums recovered, which includes money and/or the cost or present/fair market value of anything or any contract or right recovered or realized as part of the settlement, adjustment, compromise or verdict obtained on said claim or claims plus reimbursement of all expenses and costs incurred by Attorneys.

Client agrees that Attorneys shall not be required to submit or provide an itemization of the time expended in Client’s behalf in order to be entitled to the above stated attorney’s fee. Client agrees that Attorneys shall have a lien against any settlement funds or money received from any judgment for attorney’s fee, costs and expenses.

The fee due to said attorneys is to be determined by multiplying the appropriate percentage, as agreed to above, by the gross recovery. After the fee is calculated and the fee is subtracted from the gross recovery, the cost advances incurred by Attorneys are then deducted first and then any subrogated interest, liens, protected charges, Workmen’s Compensation or insurance liens are then to be deducted from the amount which remains.

If Attorneys must enforce any aspect of this contract in order to collect or obtain attorney’s fees, costs or expenses, and, if Attorneys are successful either wholly or in part in enforcement or collection, then Client agrees to pay to Attorneys a reasonable attorney’s fee and expenses incurred as a result of or in connection with such enforcement and Client further agrees that such attorney’s fee and expenses shall be in addition to or over and above any such amount owed to Attorneys for attorney’s fees and reimbursement of costs and expenses agreed to above.

If your case is referred to , P.C. by another attorney, that referring attorney or law firm may be given a portion of the fee charged by Attorneys. This will not increase the overall attorney’s fee agreed to above.

In case any term or provision of this Employment Contract shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, neither the validity of the remaining part of such term or provision, nor the validity of any other term or provision of this Employment Contract, shall in any way be affected thereby, and in such event, this Employment Contract shall be deemed to be modified so as to be construed and in force to affect the terms thereof to the fullest extent possible.

I have been advised that, in accordance with Rule of Professional Conduct , my Attorneys will place any short term or nominal client funds of mine in an Interest On Lawyers Trust Account (‘IOLTA’), the interest of which is paid to the Civil Justice Foundation, which assists designated charities in .

I, the undersigned Client, do hereby acknowledge that I have read the Employment Contract, or have had it read to me, and I fully understand and agree to each and every term, provision and condition contained in it.

In witness whereof, I have signed it with my hand and seal on the day of , 20 .

Enter text✕

What an Employment Contract Is and when it applies

An Employment Contract is a written agreement that defines the relationship between an employer and an employee, describing duties, compensation, benefits, term, confidentiality, and termination conditions. It records mutual expectations and obligations, can be fixed-term or at-will, and serves as the primary reference for workplace rights and remedies under state and federal law.

Why a clear Employment Contract matters

A well-drafted Employment Contract reduces ambiguity about pay, duties, and exit terms, lowers dispute risk, and provides enforceable remedies if a party breaches the agreement.

Why a clear Employment Contract matters

Who prepares and signs an Employment Contract

Each signer should confirm identity, role authority, and effective dates before execution to avoid later disputes.

  • In-house HR teams: Draft standardized offer letters and consistent benefit sections across roles to reduce legal exposure and administrative workload.
  • Small businesses and startups: Use simplified contracts or templates with clear at-will language and confidentiality provisions to protect trade secrets.
  • Employees and contractors: Review compensation, restrictive covenants, and termination language before signing; negotiate unclear or one-sided terms.

Step-by-step: complete an Employment Contract

Follow these steps in order to prepare, review, and finalize an enforceable Employment Contract with minimal rework.

  • 01
    Draft core terms: Define role, pay, start date, and benefits before adding clauses.
  • 02
    Add protective clauses: Include confidentiality, IP assignment, non-solicit, and dispute resolution clauses if needed.
  • 03
    Review legally: Have HR or counsel check for state law conflicts and statutory requirements.
  • 04
    Execute and retain: Sign, date, distribute copies, and store original according to retention rules.

Core sections to include in a professional Employment Contract

Include clear, discrete sections so obligations and remedies are easy to find and enforce; each section should use unambiguous language and defined terms where helpful.

Parties

Identify employer legal entity and employee by full legal name, with addresses and contact details for service.

Term and Start Date

State whether employment is at-will or for a fixed term, and specify the start date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

Compensation

Detail salary, wages, bonuses, method and frequency of payment, and any conditions for variable pay.

Benefits and Time Off

Describe health benefits, retirement plans, PTO accrual, and eligibility waiting periods or enrollment windows.

Confidentiality and IP

Include confidentiality obligations and assignment of inventions for roles involving proprietary information or code.

Termination and Remedies

Set notice, severance (if any), cause standards, post-termination obligations, and dispute resolution method.

Security and compliance considerations for electronic Employment Contracts

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
Audit Trail: Timestamped records of signer actions
HIPAA: BAA required for health data workflows
ESIGN / UETA: Legal framework for e-signature validity
SOC 2: SOC 2 Type II available on request
21 CFR Part 11: Supported for regulated records

Key risks and legal consequences to avoid

I-9 Violations: Paperwork errors can trigger fines; see 8 CFR §274a.2
Tax Reporting: Incorrect TINs may require backup withholding at 24%
Noncompliant Clauses: Unenforceable covenants may be severed by courts
Breach Claims: Wrongful termination suits can result in damages
Privacy Breach: Improper handling of health data risks HIPAA penalties
Recordkeeping Failures: Retention lapses impede defense in audits

Common drafting mistakes to avoid

  • Overly broad restrictive covenants that lack geographic or duration limits and may be struck down by courts, causing partial or complete loss of protection.
  • Ambiguous compensation terms that omit currency, frequency, or condition for bonuses, creating payroll disputes and potential wage claims.
  • Missing effective dates or signature dates that create confusion about rights, leave accrual, and eligibility for benefits tied to service time.
  • Failing to confirm signatory authority for the employer entity, which can render an agreement voidable or cause enforcement challenges.

Typical digital workflow for completing an Employment Contract

A standard e-signing workflow moves a contract from drafter to signer with verification, signatures, and automatic distribution while capturing an audit trail.

  • Upload document: Load Word or PDF into the signing platform.
  • Place fields: Add name, signature, date, and optional initial fields.
  • Send to signer: Deliver via email link or secure signing URL.
  • Sign and complete: Signer authenticates and signs; system stores audit record.

Digital setup checklist for Employment Contract workflows

Configure template-level settings to ensure consistent signing order, authentication, and retention across hires.

Field Configuration
Signature Field Required; enforce signer order
Signer Authentication Email link, SMS code, or stronger methods
Conditional Clauses Show fields only when applicable
Reminders Set automated reminders at 3 and 7 days

Technical and integration considerations for e-signing

Verify platform compliance (ESIGN/UETA, HIPAA if applicable) and retention/export capabilities before use.

  • File formats: PDF, Word DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Connects to HR and storage systems
  • Authentication: Supports email, SMS, or SSO

Key deadlines and timing to track for employment paperwork

Track statutory and administrative deadlines for onboarding, tax reporting, and benefits enrollment to remain compliant and reduce penalty risk.

Start Date:

Specify MM/DD/YYYY to determine benefits eligibility and pay cycle

I-9 Completion:

Complete by hire date; retain 3 years after hire or 1 year after termination (8 CFR §274a.2)

Benefits Enrollment Deadline:

Typically within 30–60 days of hire depending on plan details

W-2 Reporting:

Employers must provide W-2 to employees by January 31

Probation or Review:

Record probation end date if tied to promotion or termination rights

Real-world examples of Employment Contract use

These brief examples show how organizations use standard contracts to streamline hiring and protect assets.

Optica Ventures

The interface is simple for our team and customers.

  • They used standard offer templates for all roles.
  • Optica standardized clauses and automated signatures to reduce onboarding time and maintain consistent legal terms across investments.

Fertility Centers of Illinois

airSlate SignNow provided flexibility and compliance.

  • They integrated with internal systems for signature capture.
  • The center adopted secure e-sign workflows to manage provider agreements and patient-related employment forms while meeting security requirements.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient Employment Contracts

Apply consistent templates, version control, and a brief legal review process to reduce rework and legal exposure.

Use standardized templates
Maintain a single approved template per role level with version control to avoid inconsistent clauses and to make auditing simpler.
Limit restrictive covenants
Draft non-compete and non-solicit clauses narrowly by geography and duration to improve enforceability under state law.
Document approvals
Record who reviewed and approved each contract iteration to provide an audit trail if disputes arise.
Confirm signatory authority
Verify the employer signer has authority to bind the entity and capture title and date in the signature block.

Typical eSignature pricing and feature overview for Employment Contracts

Below are common pricing and feature points to compare among eSignature vendors; signNow is listed first per platform data and includes multiple plan options.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies — verify Varies — verify Varies — verify

Frequently asked questions about Employment Contracts and e-signing

Answers to common questions on enforceability, e-signatures, notarization, retention, and correcting signed Employment Contracts.


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