Section 14 Hourly Litigation Fee Agreement

• Library: Civil Trial Practice 2008 Supp Forms

SAMPLE FORM 1 HOURLY LITIGATION FIRM NAME STREET CITY, STATE, ZIP PHONE DATE LAWYER-CLIENT FEE AGREEMENT

____________________ ("Lawyer"), will provide legal services to__________________ ("Client"), on the terms set forth below.

1. CONDITIONS. This Agreement will not take effect, and Lawyer will have no obligation to provide legal services, until Client returns a signed copy of this Agreement and pays the initial deposit (advanced fee) called for under Paragraph 5.

2. SCOPE OF SERVICES. Client hires Lawyer to provide legal services in the following matter: [describe matter]. Lawyer will provide those legal services reasonably required to represent Client. Lawyer will take reasonable steps to keep Client informed of progress and to respond to Client's inquiries. If a court action is filed, Lawyer will represent Client through trial and post-trial motions. This Agreement does not cover representation on appeal or in execution proceedings after judgment. Separate arrangements must be agreed to for those services. Services in any matter not described above will require a separate Agreement.

3. CLIENT. The lawyer is representing the Client (name) only in this matter. It is understood by Client and any third party who may be assisting Client financially, emotionally or otherwise, in this matter, that lawyer's duty is to act in the best interest of the Client and lawyer cannot share information about Client's case with anyone other than Client without express permission.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARTIES. Client agrees to be truthful with Lawyer, to cooperate, to keep Lawyer informed of any information or developments which may come to Client's attention, to abide by this agreement, and to pay Lawyer's bills on time. Further, while it is impossible to predict the course of a representation, it may be important for Lawyer to contact Client immediately, or upon short notice, to confer with Client regarding the status of Client's case. An inability to do so may result in Client's case being prejudiced and detrimentally affect the outcome of the case. Accordingly, Client agrees to keep Lawyer informed of Client's current address, telephone number and whereabouts. If Client leaves town, for example, to travel on business or vacation, Client agrees to notify Lawyer before leaving of the expected duration of the trip and how Client may be contacted in the meantime.

5. DEPOSIT (ADVANCED FEE). Client agrees to pay Lawyer an initial deposit (advanced fee) of $______...