Chapter 1: Hourly Rates................................................................................................................................................... 1
Primary Clause............................................................................................................................................................................ 1
AGREEMENT
#1: Simple Hourly Rate; Single Rate.................................................................................................... 1
Sample Form with Standard Clauses.......................................................................................................................................... 1
AGREEMENT
#2: Hourly Rate - Letter Format; Mixed Rates............................................................................ 3
AGREEMENT
#3: Hourly Rate - Alternative; Mixed Rates................................................................................. 5
AGREEMENT
#4: Hourly Rate - Alternative Letter; Single Rate................................................................... 8
Additional Clauses: Multiple Attorneys............................................................................................................................... 10
Additional Clauses: Time Value............................................................................................................................................ 10
Chapter 2: Discounted Hourly Rate........................................................................................................................ 15
Primary Clause: Mixed Rates................................................................................................................................................. 15
AGREEMENT
#1............................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Sample Form with Standard Clauses: Mixed Rates.................................................................................................................. 15
Additional Clause: Basic Fee; Mixed Rates........................................................................................................................ 18
Chapter 3: Blended Hourly Rate............................................................................................................................... 19
Primary Clause.......................................................................................................................................................................... 19
AGREEMENT
#1............................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Sample Form with Standard Clauses: Single Rate.................................................................................................................... 19
AGREEMENT
#2: Complex Form; Conflicts; Mixed Rates................................................................................... 21
Chapter 4: Fixed Fees and Flat Rates...................................................................................................................... 28
Primary Clause.......................................................................................................................................................................... 28
AGREEMENT
#1: Flat Rate.................................................................................................................................................... 28
Sample Form with Standard Clauses........................................................................................................................................ 28
AGREEMENT
#2: Letter Format; Work Description............................................................................................. 30
AGREEMENT
#3: Multiple Fees; District Court........................................................................................................ 32
Chapter 5: Capped Fee........................................................................................................................................................ 35
Primary Clause.......................................................................................................................................................................... 35
AGREEMENT
#1: Simple Form............................................................................................................................................... 35
Sample Form with Standard Clauses........................................................................................................................................ 35
AGREEMENT
#2: Alternative Form; Hourly Cap plus Contingency........................................................... 37
Chapter 6: Project Billing............................................................................................................................................ 38
Primary Clause:........................................................................................................................................................................ 38
AGREEMENT
#1............................................................................................................................................................................ 38
Sample Form with Standard Clauses........................................................................................................................................ 38
Chapter 7: Incentive Billing......................................................................................................................................... 40
Primary Clause:........................................................................................................................................................................ 40
AGREEMENT
#1............................................................................................................................................................................ 41
Sample Form with Standard Clauses........................................................................................................................................ 41
Chapter 8: Contingency Agreements...................................................................................................................... 43
AGREEMENT
#1............................................................................................................................................................................ 43
Short Form................................................................................................................................................................................. 43
AGREEMENT
#2............................................................................................................................................................................ 44
Long Form.................................................................................................................................................................................. 44
AGREEMENT
#3: Contingent Fee Contract................................................................................................................ 49
Chapter 9: Modified Contingency............................................................................................................................. 53
AGREEMENT
#1............................................................................................................................................................................ 53
Simple Form............................................................................................................................................................................... 53
AGREEMENT
#2............................................................................................................................................................................ 54
Complex Form........................................................................................................................................................................... 54
Sample Form with Standard Clauses........................................................................................................................................ 54
AGREEMENT
#3: Tort; Alternative Fees...................................................................................................................... 58
TORT............................................................................................................................................................................................ 58
AGREEMENT
#4: Malpractice; Alternative Fees................................................................................................... 60
Additional Clauses; Structured Agreement......................................................................................................................... 62
Chapter 10: Defense Contingency............................................................................................................................. 63
Primary Clause.......................................................................................................................................................................... 63
AGREEMENT
#1: Contingency Fee..................................................................................................................................... 63
Sample Forms with Standard Clauses...................................................................................................................................... 63
Chapter 11: Hybrid Arrangement.............................................................................................................................. 66
Primary Clause.......................................................................................................................................................................... 66
Short Form................................................................................................................................................................................ 66
AGREEMENT
#1: Hourly Rate with Cap........................................................................................................................ 66
Sample Form with Standard Clauses........................................................................................................................................ 66
Primary Clause.......................................................................................................................................................................... 68
Long Form................................................................................................................................................................................ 68
AGREEMENT
#2: Contingency Fee..................................................................................................................................... 68
Sample Form with Standard Clauses........................................................................................................................................ 68
Primary Clause.......................................................................................................................................................................... 71
AGREEMENT
#3: Engagement Fee with Hourly Rate............................................................................................ 71
Sample Form with Standard Clauses........................................................................................................................................ 71
Chapter 12: Pro Bono and Foundations............................................................................................................... 74
AGREEMENT
#1: Bar Foundation / Reduced Fee....................................................................................................... 74
Agreement
#2: Volunteer Legal Services Representation............................................................................ 77
Chapter 13: RETAINER AGREEMENTS............................................................................................................................. 81
AGREEMENT
#1: Traffic Case; Plan Member............................................................................................................. 81
AGREEMENT
#2: Retainer...................................................................................................................................................... 84
AGREEMENT
#3: General Retainer; Long Form........................................................................................................ 86
AGREEMENT
#4: Retainer; Alternate Payer; Criminal...................................................................................... 89
Additional Clause..................................................................................................................................................................... 91
No Refund Retainer.................................................................................................................................................................. 91
CHAPTER 14: ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, CONFLICT AND DECLINATION LETTERS...... 95
AGREEMENT
#1: Litigation Engagement Letter..................................................................................................... 95
Alternative
Letter Form................................................................................................................................................. 96
Terms
Of Engagement......................................................................................................................................................... 96
Specific
Terms........................................................................................................................................................................... 96
a. Introductory Clause.............................................................................................................................................................. 96
b. Costs..................................................................................................................................................................................... 96
c. Experts.................................................................................................................................................................................. 97
d. Forms Included..................................................................................................................................................................... 97
e. Appointments....................................................................................................................................................................... 97
f. Other Counsel....................................................................................................................................................................... 98
Warranties............................................................................................................................................................................... 98
a. General.................................................................................................................................................................................. 98
b. Tax Warranties...................................................................................................................................................................... 99
c. Outcome Warranties............................................................................................................................................................. 99
AGREEMENT
#2: Community Associations Form................................................................................................... 99
AGREEMENT
#3: Fee Arrangements For Community Associations.......................................................... 100
AGREEMENT
#4: Conflict Letter.................................................................................................................................... 100
Letter #a.................................................................................................................................................................................. 100
Letter #b................................................................................................................................................................................. 102
Letter #c.................................................................................................................................................................................. 102
Letter #d................................................................................................................................................................................. 104
AGREEMENT
#5: Declination Letter............................................................................................................................ 105
AGREEMENT
#6: Power Of Attorney Letters.......................................................................................................... 106
Escrow Funds.......................................................................................................................................................................... 107
Other Matters.......................................................................................................................................................................... 107
Insurance.................................................................................................................................................................................. 108
AGREEMENT
#7: Non-Engagement Letter.................................................................................................................. 108
AGREEMENT
#8: Termination Letter........................................................................................................................... 109
Disputes/Remedies.................................................................................................................................................................. 109
Arbitration............................................................................................................................................................................... 109
Chapter 15: Workers’ Compensation.................................................................................................................. 112
AGREEMENT
#1: Attorney/Client Agreement........................................................................................................ 112
Sample Form with Standard Clauses...................................................................................................................................... 112
AGREEMENT
#2: Alternative Form............................................................................................................................... 114
AGREEMENT
#3: Long Form................................................................................................................................................ 114
Chapter 16: Zoning............................................................................................................................................................ 118
Agreement
#1.......................................................................................................................................................................... 118
Chapter 17: Traffic and Criminal........................................................................................................................... 120
AGREEMENT
#1: Criminal - Felony................................................................................................................................. 120
AGREEMENT
#2: General - Short Form........................................................................................................................ 122
AGREEMENT
#3: Criminal - District Court............................................................................................................... 123
AGREEMENT
#4: Violation of Probation - Circuit Court................................................................................ 124
AGREEMENT
#5: Criminal Case........................................................................................................................................ 125
AGREEMENT
#6: DWI................................................................................................................................................................ 126
AGREEMENT
#7: Traffic....................................................................................................................................................... 127
AGREEMENT
#8: GENERAL...................................................................................................................................................... 128
Chapter 18: Family Law.................................................................................................................................................. 130
AGREEMENT
#1: Adoption................................................................................................................................................... 130
AGREEMENT
#2: Divorce....................................................................................................................................................... 132
AGREEMENT
#3: Divorce - Alternate........................................................................................................................... 134
AGREEMENT
#4: Divorce - Long Form........................................................................................................................... 135
1. Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................ 135
2. Retainer................................................................................................................................................................................ 136
3. Hourly Rates........................................................................................................................................................................ 137
4. Attorneys’ Hourly Rates.................................................................................................................................................... 138
5. Expenses And Costs........................................................................................................................................................... 139
6. Terms Of Payment............................................................................................................................................................... 140
7. Results Clause..................................................................................................................................................................... 141
8. Deposits And Additional Retainers................................................................................................................................ 141
9. Incremental Charges......................................................................................................................................................... 142
10. Termination And Collection.......................................................................................................................................... 142
11. Billing Inquiries............................................................................................................................................................... 145
12. Miscellaneous................................................................................................................................................................... 145
13. Execution........................................................................................................................................................................... 147
Miscellaneous
Divorce Clauses................................................................................................................................. 148
Trust Replenishment Account............................................................................................................................................... 148
Flat Fee.................................................................................................................................................................................... 149
Hourly Fee With Retainer For Limited Amount Of Work Reserving The Right To Charge Greater Retainer For Additional Work 150
Standard With All Three Types............................................................................................................................................ 152
Chapter 19: Property & Real Estate..................................................................................................................... 154
AGREEMENT
#1: Land Use.................................................................................................................................................... 154
Chapter 20: Business........................................................................................................................................................ 155
AGREEMENT
#1.......................................................................................................................................................................... 155
Chapter 21: Personal Guaranty Corporate Representation............................................................ 157
Chapter 22: Miscellaneous Retainer Agreements...................................................................................... 159
ENGAGEMENT
LETTER AND RELATED TRUSTS AND ESTATES FORMS................................................................. 159
Estate Planning-Joint Representation of Spouses........................................................................................................... 159
Chapter 23: Miscellaneous Clauses..................................................................................................................... 163
A.
Damages............................................................................................................................................................................... 163
B.
Discovery Dispute............................................................................................................................................................ 163
C.
Questions............................................................................................................................................................................. 164
D.
Scheduling.......................................................................................................................................................................... 164
E.
PIP Coverage........................................................................................................................................................................ 164
F.
Retainer as Security..................................................................................................................................................... 164
G.
Settle or Compromise.................................................................................................................................................. 165
H.
Miscellaneous Clauses.............................................................................................................................................. 165
I.
Options: Fee Estimates, Limitations and Fixed Fees.................................................................................... 166
Option 1: Fee Estimate.......................................................................................................................................................... 166
Option 2: Limitation of Fees................................................................................................................................................. 167
Option 3: Alternative Form, Prepaid Expense Fund....................................................................................................... 167
Option 4: Earned Fees, Non-refundable Retainer and Result Fees.............................................................................. 168
Option 5.................................................................................................................................................................................... 168
Conclusion for Both Options................................................................................................................................................ 168
Fee Based on Results............................................................................................................................................................. 169
J.
Lawyer Acting as Fiduciary..................................................................................................................................... 169
Form Notification and Consent Letter............................................................................................................................... 169
K.
Advice re: Loss of Tax Advantages..................................................................................................................... 171
L.
Advice re: Identity of Client..................................................................................................................................... 172
Chapter 24: Miscellaneous Forms......................................................................................................................... 174
A.
Intake Form....................................................................................................................................................................... 174
B.
Traffic Mitigation Form............................................................................................................................................ 177
C.
“Claimant’s Consent to Pay Attorney Fee and Doctor’s Fee”........................................................... 177
Worker’s Compensation Commission Form, Form H-44 (ORG).................................................................................... 177
D.
Guilty Plea.......................................................................................................................................................................... 179
E.
Sample Form for Traffic Cases.............................................................................................................................. 181
F.
Alternate Form for Traffic Cases...................................................................................................................... 182