LegalConflictTools

Engagement Letter Checklist

Check that an engagement letter covers scope, fees, communication, termination and the terms that prevent later disputes.

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Free · No sign-up · Runs in your browser

The engagement letter is where almost every avoidable fee dispute is either prevented or created. Scope that was never written down becomes scope creep. A billing increment that was never disclosed becomes a complaint. A retention policy that was never stated becomes a request for a file nobody kept.

This checklist covers the terms an engagement letter commonly addresses. It is a list of topics rather than a precedent, and what is required rather than merely advisable differs by jurisdiction.

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How to use the engagement letter checklist

  1. Work through each section against the draft letter rather than from memory.
  2. Pay particular attention to scope exclusions - what is not covered is as important as what is.
  3. Confirm the fee section states the increment and the rounding rule, not only the rate.
  4. Tick items as you verify them; progress is saved in this browser.

What people use this for

  • Reviewing an engagement letter before it goes to a client.
  • Auditing a firm’s standard template against a list of topics.
  • Preparing a letter for an unusual matter or fee arrangement.
  • Reviewing a letter you have been asked to sign as a client.

Scope exclusions do more work than scope

A scope stated positively describes what will be done. What prevents disputes is the list of things that will not - tax advice, other jurisdictions, related proceedings, ongoing monitoring after completion.

Clients reasonably assume that a lawyer engaged on a matter is handling the matter. Stating the boundary explicitly is how that assumption is managed before it becomes a complaint.

The billing increment belongs in the letter

A client who agreed a rate and later discovers that every task is billed at a six-minute minimum has a legitimate complaint, and it is a complaint about disclosure rather than about the convention itself.

Stating the increment and the rounding rule alongside the rate costs one sentence and removes an entire category of dispute.

File retention is worth stating

Clients ask for files years after a matter closes, sometimes after the retention period has expired. A letter that states the period and the destruction policy makes that conversation straightforward rather than awkward.

It also gives the firm a documented basis for its retention schedule, which matters when the request arrives with a complaint attached.

Methodology and assumptions

What this calculator does, and what it deliberately does not do.

  • The checklist is a general list of topics engagement letters commonly address. It is not a precedent and does not reflect any jurisdiction’s mandatory content requirements.
  • Progress is stored in your browser using local storage and is never uploaded.
  • The tool performs arithmetic or date counting on the values you enter. It does not interpret a rule, a statute or a contract.
  • Nothing you type is transmitted or stored - the calculation runs entirely inside your browser.

This website provides general informational and productivity tools and does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.

The date and deadline tools count days exactly as you instruct them. They do not interpret court rules, statutes of limitation, filing requirements or any other legal authority, and they do not know the rules of your jurisdiction.

Always verify any date, fee, or calculation against the governing rule, the court calendar and your own professional judgement. If you need legal advice, consult a lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction.

Frequently asked questions

Is an engagement letter required?

In many jurisdictions written terms are mandatory for some or all engagements, and in others they are strongly advised. Check the rules that apply to you.

Does this list cover mandatory terms in my jurisdiction?

No. It covers topics that commonly appear. Mandatory content differs by jurisdiction and by fee type - contingency agreements in particular are frequently prescribed.

Should the letter be signed?

Where the rules permit an unsigned letter, a signed one is still considerably easier to rely on. Some fee arrangements require signature.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is a topic checklist and does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship.

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