ClauseryFree law firm engagement letter template (Word)
An engagement letter that sets out scope, the team, fees and billing for a new matter. It supports hourly or flat fees, an optional retainer, and a list of attorneys with their rates.
No sign-up. Your answers stay in your browser. Who it is for: Solo practitioners and small firms who open new matters every week.
Updated · Word (.docx) · Free to use and adapt
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What is in the engagement letter
- Client and matter details
- Scope of the engagement
- Team: any number of attorneys with role and hourly rate
- Hourly or flat fee
- Optional advance fee deposit held in trust
- Costs, billing and payment terms
- Termination
- Client acceptance block
Read the full template
This is the complete wording. [Labels] are filled in from your answers, and highlighted text only appears when it applies; hover over it to see when.
ENGAGEMENT LETTER
[Letter date]
[Client name]
[Client address]
Re: [Matter description]
Dear [Client salutation],
Thank you for choosing [Firm name] (the "Firm") to represent you. This letter confirms the terms of our engagement.
Scope of services
The Firm will represent [Client name] in connection with [Matter description] (the "Matter"). Our engagement is limited to the Matter and does not include any other legal work unless agreed in writing.
Team
The following attorneys are expected to work on the Matter:
Repeated for each attorney
- [Name], [Role] — [Rate] per hour
Fees
Our fees are based on the time spent on the Matter at the hourly rates listed above, billed in increments of one tenth of an hour.Our fee for the Matter is a flat fee of [Flat fee], payable [Flat fee terms].
Before we begin work, we require an advance fee deposit (retainer) of [Retainer amount], which will be held in our client trust account and applied to invoices as they are issued.No advance deposit is required for this Matter.
Costs and billing
You agree to reimburse the Firm for costs incurred on your behalf, including filing fees, court reporter fees and travel. Invoices are issued monthly and are due within [Payment days] days.
Termination
You may terminate this engagement at any time by written notice. The Firm may withdraw as permitted by the applicable rules of professional conduct.
If these terms are acceptable, please sign and return a copy of this letter.
Sincerely,
[Responsible attorney]
[Firm name]
AGREED AND ACCEPTED:
____________________________
[Client name]
Date: ______________
The questions you answer
Clausery turns the template into a short questionnaire. Optional parts only appear when they apply.
| Question | Type | Asked when |
|---|---|---|
| Letter date | Date | Always |
| Client name | Short text | Always |
| Client address | Long text | Always |
| Matter description | Long text | Always |
| Client salutation | Short text | Always |
| Firm name | Short text | Always |
| Attorneys For each item: Name, Role, Rate | Repeating group | Always |
| Fee hourly | Yes / no | Always |
| Fee flat | Yes / no | Always |
| Flat fee | Money | If “Fee flat” is yes |
| Flat fee terms | Long text | If “Fee flat” is yes |
| Has retainer | Yes / no | Always |
| Retainer amount | Money | If “Has retainer” is yes |
| Payment days | Number | Always |
| Responsible attorney | Short text | Always |
How to use it
Open it
Click Fill it in now. The template opens in Clausery with its questionnaire ready.
Answer the questions
Work through the sections. Drafts save as you type, on your device.
Download the document
Get a finished Word file with your formatting intact, or print it to PDF.
Prefer to start from your own wording? Download the Word file, edit it, keep the {tags}, and upload it to Clausery. See the template syntax.
Questions
Does this meet my state bar's requirements?
It is a general sample. Rules on engagement letters, fees and trust accounts vary by jurisdiction; adapt the wording to your rules before use.
Can I list more than one attorney?
Yes. The attorney list repeats for as many people as you add, each with a role and rate.
Is it really free?
Yes. The download is free, and filling it in with the Clausery app is free too, with unlimited documents. Library templates never count towards a plan limit, and no account or card is needed.
Is my information uploaded anywhere?
No. Clausery runs entirely in your browser. Your answers and the finished document are created and stored on your own device.
Is this legal advice?
No. These are general samples. Laws differ between countries and states, so have the wording reviewed for your situation before you rely on it.
Clauses in this template, explained
Guide: How to automate a Word template without uploading it anywhere
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This template is a general sample and not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction; have it reviewed before use.