Engagement Letter
Clear statement of services, exclusions, and objectives; defines the attorney-client relationship and sets expectations for deliverables and communication.
A complete Legal Retainer Packet reduces disputes about scope and fees, documents client consent, and preserves ethical and regulatory compliance. It creates a documented timeline for performance and payments, supports malpractice defense, and helps billing accuracy while making onboarding consistent across matters.
A retainer packet is used by law firms, in-house legal teams, and independent practitioners to standardize client intake and engagement terms.
Using a consistent packet improves recordkeeping, reduces onboarding delays, and creates defensible evidence of client instructions and consent.
Clear statement of services, exclusions, and objectives; defines the attorney-client relationship and sets expectations for deliverables and communication.
Detailed billing method (hourly, flat, contingency), retainer amount, payment schedule, and terms for fee disputes and refunds.
Precise description of tasks included and excluded to avoid scope creep and to tie billing to defined deliverables and milestones.
Collects full legal name, contact details, identification, matter-specific facts, and conflict disclosure data for file opening and conflict checks.
Payment method authorization, trust account instructions, initial retainer receipt, and electronic payment consent where applicable.
Signature lines for client and attorney with date, printed name, authority statement, and optional witness or notary block if required.
| Field | Online Setting |
|---|---|
| Intake Form | Required fields, conditional display for matter type |
| Signature Field | Require signer name and date; allow guest signing |
| Payment | Enable card or ACH capture before final submission |
| Routing | Set role-based approvals and copy to file owner |
Choose distribution channels that maintain the document record, authentication, and privacy requirements relevant to the matter.
Request signed packet within 7–14 days of issuance
Require deposit at or before signing to open file
Complete conflict screening before substantive work
Open matter in practice system upon receipt of funds
Billing begins on effective date or when work starts
A boutique firm used a standardized packet to define deliverables and payment schedule
A solo employment lawyer included a limited-scope clause for negotiation-only work
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Free Trial | 7-day free 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 |