Appendix A
Retainer Agreement (Example)
Date
Jane Roe, Esq.
Johnson, Adams, & Roe, P.C.
Maintown, USA
Re: State vs. John Doe.
Dear Ms. Roe:
The following constitutes our standard retainer agreement. If you should elect to retain us, please sign and return one copy of this
letter signifying that you agree with the provisions of the agreement.
This correspondence will confirm that your firm has
retained us on behalf of John Doe. We appreciate the opportunity to work with
you. We will provide consultation and expert witness services as requested.
For these services we will charge $100 per hour for
consultation, research, reports, review of documents and other services and
$150 an hour for trials and depositions. If other staff members are used, we
will bill at their customary rates.
We expect you to arrange for and pay for transportation and
lodging and reimburse us for meals and other out-of-pocket expenses. If trials
or other matters are canceled when we have blocked off a half a day or more,
we reserve the right to bill part or all of the daily rate if the appearance
is canceled within three business days for each day that is reserved. If
traveling takes substantial time, we reserve the right to charge for travel
time.
We will submit periodic billings and our invoices are
payable by you upon presentation. You will provide us with a $2000 retainer
and our services will be billed against this retainer. We reserve the right to
request a further retainer when this sum is expended. We will refund any
unused portion of the retainer.
If we are not paid, we reserve the right to collect costs
for collections as well as interest at 8 percent per annum.
We appreciate the opportunity to be of service to you. If
this sets forth your understanding of the arrangements of this engagement,
please sign and return the enclosed copy of this correspondence to reflect
your agreement with these terms.
Sincerely yours,
John Smith, ACSW
Clinical Social Worker
Fifth Avenue Clinic
New York, NY 10011
The above terms are hereby agreed to as our fee
arrangement.
Date: Name:
Jane Roe
Johnson, Adams,& Roe, P.C