A fee agreement should make the proposed professional relationship understandable before work begins. Use this checklist to identify questions, not to decide whether a clause is valid or negotiate legal terms without advice. Keep a copy of the proposed scope and ask the lawyer to explain unclear language. A signed document is not made suitable simply because every box below is ticked.
Identify the parties, task and stopping point
Confirm who the client is, who performs the work and what matter is covered. Ask which services the agreement excludes and what event ends the present assignment. If the proposal concerns a limited task, clarify what responsibilities remain with you and whether additional professional help may be needed. The Bar’s clients’ rights material is background for the discussion, not a substitute for understanding your own engagement.
Reconcile every payment description
Record the charging method, rates or stated fixed fee and ask how each applies. Identify requested advances, cost deposits, outside expenses and the process for approving additional work. Ask for an explanation of how payments appear on invoices and how any unused amount is addressed. Do not add an advance to the estimated professional charges as though it necessarily represents a second, separate fee.
Agree how the record stays current
Ask when invoices and updates are sent, how questions about a bill should be raised and who can authorize a change to the assignment. Clarify the proposed process if the relationship ends or another lawyer takes over. Do not assume that a billing disagreement, delayed payment or proposed change suspends work or affects a legal deadline in a particular way; obtain direct professional guidance.
Your written-proposal checklist
| Item | Question or evidence to record |
|---|---|
| Parties and scope | Named client, responsible professionals and covered assignment |
| Money | Rates, fees, advances, expenses and authorization questions resolved |
| Updates | Invoice, communication and change-of-scope process recorded |
| Ending terms | Explanation of termination, files, balances and continuing responsibilities |
Record the firm, document version, quotation date, assignment and unresolved questions in your own private notes. Do not upload confidential legal documents to this website.
Next step for this decision
Keep unanswered questions visible and ask for clarification before treating the proposal as a comparable offer. The quote tool can document scoped charges after the terms are understood; it does not interpret the agreement. For a fee dispute, consult the Bar’s current consumer resources about available assistance instead of relying on this checklist as a legal conclusion.