Wayne Cohen - Lawyer | Attorney: What Is A "Retainer Agreement"?

What Is A Retainer Agreement?  By: Wayne Cohen, Lawyer & Attorney

When a client hires a lawyer, the relationship is typically memorialized in a document which is known as a "retainer agreement."  In a nutshell, these documents spell out the rights and responsibilities of each party -- meaning the lawyer, and the client.  Here are some things you should look for in a retainer agreement.

1.  Scope of Services

At our office, Cohen & Cohen, P.C., the retainer agreement sets forth what services the law firm will be handling for the client.  This will include, for example, the type of case and what work is being done.

2.  Fees

Fees must be identified in the retainer agreement also.  Are the fees on an hourly basis?  Are the fees on a contingency basis?  These types of things must be clearly articulated.

3.  Each State Is Different

The ethical rules surrounding a retainer agreement may be different in each state.  A prospective client can typically check his/her state's ethics rules, and these most often can found online.

Wayne Cohen is a trial lawyer.  He also currently serves as an adjunct law professor at the George Washington University School of Law.

Cohen & Cohen, P.C.
1220 19th Street, NW
Washington DC 20036
202-955-4529