Glossary
Retainer agreement
A retainer agreement is a contract between a lawyer and client that sets out the scope of legal services, fee structure, billing terms, and each party's responsibilities before work begins.
Retainer agreements protect both the lawyer and the client. For the lawyer, they define what you will and will not do, how you bill, and when the relationship ends. For the client, they clarify costs and expectations upfront — reducing disputes later.
Most jurisdictions expect lawyers to confirm the engagement in writing, especially around fees. A retainer agreement is often the first document in every matter file and the foundation for billing and trust deposits.
Small firms typically send retainers immediately after consultation — delay between "yes" and signed agreement is one of the biggest drop-off points in intake. E-signature lets clients sign from any device the same day.
In LawNest, retainer templates merge client and matter fields into your firm letterhead PDF. You place signature fields on the document, send a secure link, and the signed copy saves to the matter with a full audit trail.