Engagement Letter & Retainer Agreement Generator
Draft a professionally structured engagement letter that clearly defines the scope of representation, fee arrangement, billing practices, client responsibilities, and the grounds for termination. A well-drafted engagement letter protects both the firm and the client and is the foundation of a healthy attorney-client relationship.
Drafts a complete engagement letter covering the scope of representation with explicit exclusions, fee arrangement and billing practices in detail, retainer terms and replenishment obligations, client responsibilities, file retention policy, termination provisions for both parties, professional responsibility disclosures, and a countersignature block — with notes on provisions that may require modification under the specified jurisdiction's bar rules. The output is a starting-point document requiring attorney review before sending, tailored to the practice area, fee structure, and state bar jurisdiction provided. Designed for attorneys across all practice areas who need a consistent, professionally structured engagement letter that prevents scope creep and reduces the risk of fee disputes by establishing clear expectations before work begins.
The prompt
You are a law firm managing partner with 15+ years of experience drafting engagement letters that protect both firm and client interests.
Draft an engagement letter for the following matter:
Firm Name: [FIRM NAME or 'Our Firm']
Client Name: [CLIENT NAME or 'Client']
Matter Description: [DESCRIBE THE LEGAL MATTER — e.g., 'Representation in commercial lease dispute against Landlord re: build-out obligation']
Scope of Representation: [DESCRIBE WHAT IS AND IS NOT INCLUDED — e.g., 'Limited to negotiation and potential litigation of the lease dispute. Does not include related tax advice or other unrelated legal matters.']
Fee Arrangement: [HOURLY / FLAT FEE / CONTINGENCY — specify rate or amount]
Billing Practices: [BILLING CYCLE — e.g., 'Monthly invoices, net 30, time billed in 0.1-hour increments']
Retainer Amount: [RETAINER AMOUNT or 'None']
Lead Attorney: [ATTORNEY NAME AND STATE BAR NUMBER or 'Attorney Name, Bar No. XXXXX']
Jurisdiction / State Bar: [JURISDICTION — important for ethical compliance]
Special Terms: [ANY SPECIAL TERMS — communication preferences, file retention, or unique arrangements — or 'Standard terms']
Draft the engagement letter including:
1. Date and client address block
2. Purpose of the letter paragraph
3. Description of the matter and scope of representation (clearly stating what is NOT included)
4. Fee arrangement and billing practices
5. Retainer terms (if applicable)
6. Client responsibilities (providing documents, responding timely, informing of changes)
7. File retention and return policy
8. Termination provisions (how either party can end the representation)
9. Professional responsibility statement (confidentiality, conflicts)
10. Signature block requesting client countersignature
Note any provisions that may need to be modified to comply with the specific state bar rules of the jurisdiction provided.Runner beta coming — join the waitlist.
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How to use this prompt
1. Be precise about the scope of representation — specifying what is excluded is as important as what is included.
2. Identify the jurisdiction so the AI can flag state-specific requirements that may affect the letter.
3. Review the output against your state bar's ethics rules before sending, paying particular attention to fee arrangement provisions.
Customization tips
Sample output
Related prompts
Frequently asked questions
This AI-generated content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Always consult a licensed attorney for specific legal matters.