Parties
Identify the client and the law firm or lawyer by legal name, business entity type, address, and the authorized contact person who can give or receive instructions.
A Legal Assistance Agreement reduces ambiguity about duties, fees, and confidentiality. Electronically executed agreements meet federal ESIGN requirements (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA rules where adopted when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are satisfied.
Common users include private individuals, small businesses, law firms of all sizes, legal aid organizations, and corporate in-house counsel documenting engagement terms.
Use formal written agreements to document consent, protect client confidentiality, and record fee and termination arrangements for future reference.
Identify the client and the law firm or lawyer by legal name, business entity type, address, and the authorized contact person who can give or receive instructions.
Describe services to be provided in specific terms, list excluded matters, and note any conditions that trigger additional engagement or fees for related work.
State billing method, hourly rates or flat fees, retainer amount or trust handling, expense reimbursement, billing cycle, and consequences of nonpayment.
Specify obligations to protect client data, any required HIPAA safeguards for health information, limits on disclosure, and exceptions required by law.
Set notice procedures for termination by either party, final accounting and refund rules, and handling of ongoing matters or transition obligations.
Declare governing law, venue, arbitration or mediation clauses if any, and how fee disputes or malpractice claims will be handled.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Template Name | Create a reusable template for consistent terms and fields. |
| Signer Order | Set sequential or parallel signing order based on approval needs. |
| Authentication | Choose email link, SMS code, or stronger verification for higher assurance. |
| Reminder Schedule | Automatic reminders to sign at set intervals to reduce delays. |
Choose a platform that can produce tamper-evident signed PDFs and maintain a searchable audit trail without compromising client confidentiality.
Date when the agreement's obligations commence.
Payment due upon signing unless otherwise agreed.
Specify monthly or milestone billing and invoice due dates.
Typical notice periods are 10–30 days unless specified otherwise.
List any project or filing deadlines within the scope.
An eight-attorney firm uses a standard engagement form for new clients to define scope and retainer amounts.
A clinic engages outside counsel for limited regulatory advice and data breach response.
A law firm managing partner or other authorized signatory signs on behalf of the firm; include title and authority language to show the signer has power to bind the firm in client engagements.
An individual client must sign in their legal name; for entities the agreement should be signed by an officer or authorized agent and include their title and authority to sign.
| 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 trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |