Engagement Letter Template printable pdf download

Engagement Letter

Dear [name of your client]:

RE:

Agreement for legal services

Thank you for choosing my firm for your legal services. We look forward to working with

you. We want to handle your legal matter promptly and effectively, and we hope you’ll

let us know if there is any way we can improve the service we provide.

Service to be rendered

We confirm that you have retained us to perform the following legal services on your

behalf:

[Set out the legal services in sufficient detail that the client knows just what you

have agreed to do and, equally important, what you have not agreed to do. The

detail will depend on the nature of the matter and sophistication of the client.

With a new client, its better to err on the side of over-informing. Use plain

language.]

As our client, you will decide the general direction your matter will follow (for example,

[Include a concrete example such as: do we negotiate or go to court?

Accept a

settlement offer? Incorporate or form a partnership?]) Before taking any major step,

we’ll ask for your instructions on how you want to proceed. We’ll usually make a

recommendation, but the final decision will be yours. We’ll then provide the legal

services necessary to carry out your instructions. We can make no guarantees about the

outcome of your matter, but we will give you the best legal services we can.

[This paragraph is for litigation files only] You should be aware that winning your case

in court does not necessarily mean you will actually recover the money the court awards.

If the defendant is insolvent, uninsured, or uncooperative, further proceedings may be

needed to recover the money. In some cases recovery may not be possible, even after

further proceedings are taken.

Communication

Two-way communication will be very important in our relationship. If you ever need

clarification of what we are doing, please call or make an appointment for a meeting. If

you have any information that might help us to handle your matter, please let us know.

We’ll report to you from time to time by letter, telephone, or in person and send you

copies of correspondence we send or receive and documents we prepare. If you need

further explanation of a document or correspondence you receive from us, please call us

right away. It is your responsibility to keep us informed of any change in your mailing

address or phone number.

Privilege and confidentiality

Certain communications between solicitor and client are absolutely confidential. This

confidentiality is known as the “solicitor-client privilege”. Because of it, you can give us

all the facts relevant to your matter without fear that those facts will become public. We

cannot be compelled by the tax department, the police, the government, or the courts to

divulge information that is subject to solicitor-client privilege.

The solicitor-client

privilege is your privilege, not ours, so only you can waive it. Not all solicitor-client

communications are privileged.

The privilege only arises when a client reveals

information in confidence to obtain legal advice or services. Information you give us that

Engagement Letter Template

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