Solo attorneys and small law firms send invoices for legal work such as contract drafting, litigation, estate planning, real estate closings, and business formation. Bills usually combine attorney and paralegal time, flat-fee services, and out-of-pocket costs advanced for the client, such as filing fees and court reporters.
Create an invoice for payment collection
Upload logo
PDF will be generated with filename:
Invoice_1001_Client_2026-10-14.pdf
Most firms bill by the hour in six-minute (0.1 hour) or fifteen-minute increments, with different rates for partners, associates, and paralegals. Routine matters such as simple wills, uncontested divorces, LLC formation, trademark filings, and residential closings are often sold as flat fees. Litigation and large matters commonly use an advance deposit placed in a trust account (a retainer) that is drawn down as work is billed. Personal injury and some collections work is done on contingency, where the fee is a percentage of the recovery and the client is billed for costs only. Hybrid arrangements, such as a reduced hourly rate plus a success fee, exist in some practice areas. Costs are billed separately from fees, usually at actual cost. Fee agreement rules, trust accounting rules, and limits on contingency and flat fees vary by state, so check your state bar's rules.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney time (solo or small firm, general practice) | per hour | $200-450 |
| Paralegal time | per hour | $75-175 |
| Simple will or basic estate plan | flat fee | $500-2,500 |
| LLC or corporation formation | flat fee | $500-2,000 |
| Residential real estate closing | flat fee | $500-1,500 |
| Uncontested divorce | flat fee | $1,000-3,500 |
| Contract review or drafting | per hour or flat fee | $250-450 per hour |
| Litigation retainer deposit | advance deposit | $2,500-10,000 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney time: review of commercial lease, markup, and negotiation call with landlord's counsel (J. Rivera) | 4.5 hours | $325.00 | $1,462.50 |
| Attorney time: drafting lease addendum and personal guaranty review | 2.2 hours | $325.00 | $715.00 |
| Paralegal time: corporate good standing certificate request and document organization | 1.5 hours | $120.00 | $180.00 |
| Cost advanced: certificate of good standing (state filing fee) | 1 each | $25.00 | $25.00 |
| Cost advanced: overnight courier for signed originals | 1 each | $38.50 | $38.50 |
| Total | $2,421.00 | ||
Notes: Matter: Lease Review, 410 Main St. Billing period: March 1-31. Time is billed in 0.1-hour increments. $2,500 retainer held in trust was applied to this invoice; remaining balance is due within 30 days of the invoice date. Please reference the matter number with your payment.
Many clients have more than one matter with a firm, and separate matter numbers keep billing, conflicts, and trust balances clear.
Clients and courts reviewing fees expect to see who did what and for how long, and vague entries like 'work on file' invite disputes.
Partner, associate, and paralegal rates differ, and the client should be able to match each rate to the fee agreement.
Filing fees, service of process, court reporters, and copying are reimbursements, not fees, and many fee agreements treat them differently.
Show the starting trust balance, amounts applied to the invoice, and the remaining balance. Many state bars require clear accounting for client funds.
A clear total and deadline reduce follow-up and give you a basis for late charges if your fee agreement allows them.
Tying the bill to the written agreement shows the charges match what the client agreed to and heads off billing complaints.
Most firms require a signed fee agreement and an upfront retainer or flat-fee deposit before starting, often 50 to 100 percent of a flat fee and a replenishing deposit for hourly matters. Retainers for future work generally belong to the client until earned and must be held in a trust account in most states, so do not deposit them in your operating account. Invoices are commonly issued monthly with payment due in 15 to 30 days. Late interest, often 1 to 1.5 percent per month, is only appropriate if it is stated in the fee agreement and permitted in your state. Firms typically accept checks, ACH, and credit cards, but card payments for trust funds need to be handled so they go to the correct account and comply with your bar's rules. Contingency matters are settled through a closing statement rather than a standard invoice.
Entries rebuilt from memory at month end are usually shorter than the real time and less detailed. Log time in 0.1-hour increments throughout the day, and write entries that describe the task and the result.
For hourly matters, set a minimum trust balance in the fee agreement and bill when it drops below that level. This keeps you from carrying unpaid work on a long case.
Monthly invoices let clients see charges while the work is fresh. Large bills that arrive after months of silence are the ones most often disputed.
Move money from trust to operating only after the fee is earned and billed, and keep records that match your invoices. Commingling is a leading cause of bar discipline.
State what the flat fee covers and what is billed extra, such as appeals, hearings, or extra revisions. Some states require specific wording about whether flat fees are refundable.
Six-minute (0.1 hour) increments are the most common and are generally seen as more precise and fair to clients. Quarter-hour billing is also used, but whichever you choose should be stated in your fee agreement and applied consistently.
It depends on your agreement and your state's ethics rules. Many firms bill paralegal time for substantive tasks but treat general overhead and clerical work as part of their rates. Charges for costs generally should reflect actual cost unless the agreement says otherwise.
Yes, it is good practice to send a receipt or invoice showing the fee, any deposit paid, costs, and the balance. If any part of the fee was paid in advance, the record should show when it was earned and moved out of trust, where your state requires that.
Often yes, but only if the client agreed to it in writing and the rate is lawful in your state. Check your bar's rules and state usury limits, and state the rate and start date in the fee agreement.
Apply the available trust balance to the invoice, show that credit, and bill the remaining amount as the balance due. Your fee agreement should say whether you will require a new deposit before continuing work.
Send a Law Firm estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Law Firm estimate template