Drafts a U.S. litigation representation agreement covering scope, fees, costs, duties, conflicts, and termination. Use when preparing an engagement letter, fee agreement, retainer, or attorney-client representation agreement at intake or pre-filing. Trigger: representation agreement, engagement letter, retainer, contingency fee, personal injury, litigation.
Drafts a U.S. litigation representation agreement covering scope, fees, costs, duties, conflicts, and termination. Use when preparing an engagement letter, fee agreement, retainer, or attorney-client representation agreement at intake or pre-filing. Trigger: representation agreement, engagement letter, retainer, contingency fee, personal injury, litigation.
Matter summary — dispute description, opposing parties, venue/jurisdiction, case caption if filed
Fee model — hourly, flat, contingency, or hybrid; rates; retainer; trust handling
Conflicts check — completed; waivers identified
Cost policy — advance vs. direct pay; approval thresholds; lien rights
Jurisdictional rules — state bar written-fee-agreement and disclosure requirements
Key dates — effective date, imminent deadlines
Quick Start
Populate the intake table below with all known values
Select the applicable fee model (Section 3) and delete the others
Assemble agreement sections 1–15 in order
Attach rate table or contingency addendum as applicable
Verify against jurisdiction-specific rules (see Pitfalls)
Intake Variables
Field
Value
Firm legal name
Attorney(s) & bar numbers
Firm address / phone / email
Client legal name
Client address / phone / email
Entity representative & title
Matter description
Court / venue / case no.
Effective date
Fee model
Retainer amount & trust treatment
Billing cadence & payment due
Cost approval threshold
Communication preferences
File retention period
Governing law / venue
Agreement Sections
Assemble in this order:
Parties and Effective Date — full legal names; signer authority for entities
Scope of Representation — covered matter and services (investigation, pleadings, discovery, motions, ADR, trial); excluded services (appeals, collection, unrelated claims); expansion by written amendment only
Fee Arrangement — select one:
Hourly — rates table by timekeeper, billing increment, rate-change notice
Flat Fee — amount, covered tasks, treatment of unused portion
Contingency — percentage(s) by phase, definition of "recovery," cost-deduction order, jurisdictional client acknowledgments
Hybrid — hourly + contingency or flat + success fee
Governing Law and Miscellaneous — governing law, venue, entire agreement, amendments in writing, severability, notices, client-name use only with consent
Signatures and Acknowledgments — signature blocks for firm and client; acknowledgments for fee terms, scope, arbitration rights
Fee-Model Addenda
Rate Table (hourly or hybrid)
Timekeeper
Role
Hourly Rate
Contingency Fee Schedule
Phase
% Fee
Pre-suit resolution
Post-filing, pre-trial
Trial
Appeal
State whether costs deducted before or after fee calculation
Include statutory/rule-mandated disclosures
Provide illustrative fee-calculation example
Pitfalls
Jurisdiction compliance — match the state's written-fee-agreement and contingency-disclosure rules; insert required consumer notices
No outcome promises — never guarantee recovery
Scope creep — exclude appeals and collection unless expressly included
Retainer clarity — specify whether any portion is earned on receipt
Personal injury specifics — verify state contingency limits, medical-lien disclosures, and settlement-authority requirements
Conflicts waivers — attach as a separate informed-consent document
Plain language — use consistent defined terms throughout
