Sample Retainer Agreement

[Firm Letterhead]
[Date]
[Client Name - Executive Director]
[Agency Name]
[Address]
[City, State, i! Code]
"e# "etainer Agreement $or %ro &ono Legal Assistance
Dear ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' (director)s name*#
+his letter is intended to set $orth our relationshi! as re,uired -y the &usiness and
%ro$essions Code section ./012 3$ the terms o$ this agreement are acce!ta-le, !lease
countersign one o$ the du!licate originals o$ this letter and return it to us2 4e cannot
assist you 5ith any legal matter until 5e receive this letter2
/2 3denti$ication o$ the %arties2 +his agreement is made -et5een '''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''''''''''(6Attorney7* and ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''''''''''(6Client7*2
82 9eneral Nature o$ Assistance2 Attorney 5ill assist Client 5ith ''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''
:2 "es!ective "es!onsi-ilities o$ Attorney and Client2 Attorney 5ill endeavor to
re!resent Client com!etently in accordance 5ith the highest legal and ethical
standards2 Client 5ill -e coo!erative, res!onsi-le and truth$ul in its relationshi! 5ith
Attorney2 ;o5ever, -oth !arties have the right to 5ithdra5 $rom this relationshi! at
any time2
02 Attorneys) Fees2 Attorney 5ill not charge Client $or attorneys $ees2 Client is
res!onsi-le $or costs and ex!enses2 ;o5ever, Attorney in their sole discretion may
choose to a-sor- any cost or ex!ense2 3$ Attorney is not a-le to a-sor- a cost or
ex!ense, Attorney agrees to o-tain Client)s authori<ation !rior to incurring a cost or
ex!ense that exceeds =/>>2
?2 Dis!ute "esolution2 @ccasionally, attorneys and their clients have dis!utes arising
$rom their relationshi!2 3$ this ha!!ens -et5een Client and Attorney, -oth !arties
agree that the dis!ute 5ill not -e resolved -y la5suit2 3nstead, i$ 5e are una-le to
5orA out the dis!ute among ourselves, then, u!on the re,uest o$ any !arty, it 5ill -e
resolved -y ar-itration conducted -y the American Ar-itration Association in San
Francisco2 Budgment u!on any re5ard rendered -y the ar-itrator may -e entered in
any court o$ com!etent Curisdiction2
.2 Discellaneous2
(a* +his agreement contains the entire agreement -et5een Client and Attorney2
+his agreement may -e modi$ied only -y su-se,uent 5ritten agreement
-et5een the director o$ Client and Attorney2
(-* 3$ any !rovision o$ this agreement is held in 5hole or in !art to -e
unen$orcea-le $or any reason, the remainder o$ that !rovision and o$ the entire
agreement 5ill remain in e$$ect2
(c* +his agreement shall a!!ly to any additional or su-se,uent matters that
Attorney agrees to undertaAe on -ehal$ o$ the Client, unless the !arties agree in
5riting to some di$$erent arrangement2
(d* +he Cali$ornia &usiness and %ro$essions Code re,uires Attorney to in$orm
Client 5hether Attorney 5ill maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage
a!!lica-le to the services to -e rendered -y Attorney2 +he Eolunteer Legal
Services %rogram 5ill maintain errors and omissions insurance coverage
a!!lica-le to the services to -e rendered -y Attorney, as set $orth in this
agreement2

Attorney Signature# ''''''''''''''''''''''

Attorney Name# '''''''''''''''''''''''''
+he $oregoing is agreed to -y#
Client# ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
&y# ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
3ts# Director