Lawyer Retainer Agreement
Define the terms of ongoing legal services.
· Trusted by 1,850+ agencies · Updated September 2026Agreement Template
Retainer Terms
The monthly retainer fee and what it covers.
This template also covers:
- Services Covered
- Additional Work
- Billing
- Renewal
- Trust Account
What is a Lawyer Retainer Agreement?
A lawyer retainer agreement defines ongoing legal services, monthly fees, and terms.
A lawyer retainer agreement is a document that outlines the terms of ongoing legal services, covering monthly retainer fees, services covered, and billing arrangements.
- Used for ongoing legal services
- Typically 2-4 pages
- Renewed monthly or quarterly
- Defines retainer scope and fees
- Covers additional work billing
What's Inside This Template
6 structured sections, ready to fill in for your project.
Retainer Terms
The monthly retainer fee and what it covers.
Services Covered
What legal services are included in the retainer.
Additional Work
How additional work beyond the retainer is billed.
Billing
How fees are calculated and invoiced.
Renewal
How the retainer is renewed and can be terminated.
Trust Account
How retainer funds are held and applied.
Without a Template vs. With This One
| Aspect | Without a Template | With This Template |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Pay-per-consultation only | Guaranteed monthly access to legal services |
| Budgeting | Unpredictable legal costs | Predictable monthly legal budget |
| Relationship | Transactional relationship | Ongoing advisory relationship |
Who This Template Is For
Built for the people who actually write and send scope of work documents, here's why it fits each of them.
Creative Agencies
- Secure ongoing legal support
- Define monthly fees
- Set clear expectations
Freelance Designers
- Secure legal counsel
- Budget monthly
- Define scope
Project Managers
- Plan ongoing legal work
- Budget monthly costs
- Track deliverables
Startup Founders
- Secure legal capacity
- Budget predictably
- Define scope
Marketing Teams
- Secure ongoing legal support
- Budget monthly
- Define scope
Product Teams
- Secure ongoing legal counsel
- Budget monthly
- Define scope
How to Use This Template
Fill in party details
Add law firm and client names.
Define retainer terms
Set monthly fee and services covered.
Set billing and renewal
Define billing process and renewal terms.
Send for signature
Save to Taskip for e-signature.
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FAQs: Lawyer Retainer Agreement
What is a lawyer retainer?
A lawyer retainer is an ongoing arrangement where a client pays a monthly fee for access to legal services.
What should a retainer include?
At minimum: monthly fee, services covered, additional work billing, renewal terms, and trust account provisions.
Is this retainer template free?
Yes, free to download and customize. Save to Taskip for e-signature.
How are retainer funds handled?
Retainer funds are typically held in a trust account and applied as services are rendered.
What if the retainer is exhausted?
The template includes provisions for additional work billing beyond the retainer allocation.
Lawyer Retainer Agreement, free to download, no credit card required