Name the client and define the assignment

Check whose interests the lawyer will represent. You, your business, and another family member are not automatically the same client. Identify the matter and the stage covered by the agreement. Reviewing a contract is different from negotiating it, and handling a trial may not include an appeal. If several people are involved, ask how possible conflicts and confidential communications will be handled.

Translate the fee arrangement into ordinary numbers

Determine whether the fee is hourly, fixed, contingent, or a combination, and ask for an explanation using a realistic example. Clarify who may work on the file and how their time is charged. An initial deposit is not necessarily the total price. Ask how funds are held, when bills arrive, and what happens to an unused balance under the rules that apply.

Separate legal fees from other expenses

Filing fees, experts, records, service of papers, travel, and other costs can sit outside the quoted legal fee. Ask which expenses require your approval and whether you remain responsible for them if the result is disappointing. The ABA’s model fee rule addresses scope, fees, and expenses, but each jurisdiction’s adopted rules control. Do not assume every state uses identical requirements.

Agree on communication and decisions

Ask who will be your usual contact, how documents should be delivered, and how urgent messages will be handled. Discuss the level of explanation you need before important choices. Keep your contact details current and tell counsel when new notices or offers arrive. A useful arrangement distinguishes routine work the lawyer will manage from decisions requiring a conversation with you.

Understand how the relationship can end

Read provisions about ending the engagement, transfer of the file, outstanding charges, and work needed to protect approaching dates. Court permission may be necessary in a pending case, depending on the circumstances and applicable rules. Ask about anything unclear before signing. Keep the final agreement, later changes, and invoices together so both the scope and the spending remain easy to track.

Your preparation list

Bring these records together.

  • The correct client name and a clearly described assignment.
  • A fee explanation that distinguishes deposits, charges, and expenses.
  • An agreed contact person and method for urgent communications.
  • A copy of the signed agreement and any later scope changes.

Reference points: American Bar Association, Model Rule 1.5 (Fees) and Formal Opinion 523 overview. Model rules are not a substitute for the rules adopted in your jurisdiction. Reviewed September 30, 2026.