Section 15 Hourly Non-Litigation Fee Agreement

• Library: Civil Trial Practice 2008 Supp Forms

SAMPLE FORM 2 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. This Agreement does not cover litigation services of any kind, whether in court, arbitration, administrative hearings, or government agency hearings. 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. CLIENT'S DUTIES. 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, to pay Lawyer's bills on time and to keep Lawyer advised of Client's address, telephone number and whereabouts. Client will assist Lawyer in providing information and documents necessary for the representation in the described matter.

5. DEPOSIT (ADVANCED FEE). Client agrees to pay Lawyer an initial deposit (advanced fee) of $ ___________ by _____________. The hourly charges will be credited against the deposit (advanced fee). The initial deposit (advanced fee), as well as any future deposit (advanced fee), will be held in a trust account. Client authorizes Lawyer to use that fund to pay the fees and other charges as they are incurred. Payments from the fund will be made upon remittance to client of a billing statement. Client acknowledges that the deposit (advanced fee) is not an estimate of total fees and costs, but merely an advance for...