Lawyer / Attorney Invoice Example
Hourly invoice for a small-firm attorney billing in tenths of an hour, with a disbursement and retainer applied.
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| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Review and markup of draft supply agreement | 3.4 | $410.00 | $1,394.00 |
| Draft amendment No. 2 and redline sent to opposing counsel | 2.1 | $410.00 | $861.00 |
| Calls with client and opposing counsel re: indemnification terms | 1.2 | $410.00 | $492.00 |
| Filing fee, Circuit Court of Cook County (disbursement, billed at cost) | 1 | $435.00 | $435.00 |
| Retainer applied | 1 | -$2,000.00 | -$2,000.00 |
Retainer applied against this invoice; remaining trust balance is $500. Disbursements are billed at cost with no markup, payment due within 15 days.
Attorneys at small firms typically bill by the tenth of an hour, with separate line items for each task worked during a matter. An invoice should show enough detail that a client can see exactly what was done without needing to call and ask. Disbursements like filing fees and court reporter costs are usually passed through separately from time, and retainers are tracked against the invoice total rather than paid twice.
What should a lawyer / attorney invoice include?
- Matter name or reference number so the client can match the invoice to the engagement letter
- Each time entry with date, task description, hours in tenths, and the timekeeper's rate
- Disbursements (filing fees, courier, expert costs) listed separately from professional time
- Retainer balance applied and remaining trust balance after this invoice
- Hourly rate for each attorney or paralegal if more than one worked the matter
- Payment terms and accepted payment methods
- Trust account details if the jurisdiction requires them shown separately
How to create a lawyer / attorney invoice
- 1Add your business details. Your name, address, contact details and tax number if you are registered.
- 2Add the client. Their name and billing address. Save them to reuse next time.
- 3List the work. Break the job into clear line items the way a lawyer / attorney bills (see below).
- 4Add tax. Apply your tax rate, or leave it at zero if you are not registered.
- 5Set payment terms and a due date. State when payment is due and how the client can pay.
- 6Download or send. Export a clean PDF, or email it to the client. No signup, no watermark.
How do you itemise a lawyer / attorney invoice?
Round each task to the nearest tenth of an hour and describe it the way it would appear in a fee petition, specific enough that a client (or a judge, if fees are ever contested) can tell what was done. Keep disbursements on their own lines billed at cost, not marked up, since courts and clients both expect that. If a retainer is on file, show it as a negative line item equal to the amount applied, not as a separate credit memo, so the invoice total reflects what is actually owed.
What do lawyer / attorneys typically charge?
| Region | Typical billing |
|---|---|
| United States | $250 to $650 per hour depending on practice area and seniority |
| United Kingdom | £150 to £450 per hour |
| Canada | CAD 300 to CAD 700 per hour |
| Australia | AUD 350 to AUD 800 per hour |
Indicative ranges for guidance. Your rate depends on experience, location and the job.
Do lawyer / attorneys charge tax on invoices?
In the United States, legal services are generally not subject to sales tax, though a handful of states, including Hawaii and New Mexico, tax professional services broadly, so check state rules before assuming no tax applies. Fees held in a client trust account are not revenue until they are earned and transferred, which matters for both invoicing and bookkeeping.
What payment terms should a lawyer / attorney use?
Most firms invoice monthly and expect payment within 15 to 30 days. Interest on late balances, if charged, should be disclosed in the engagement letter, not introduced for the first time on an invoice. Many firms require a replenished retainer before continuing work if the trust balance runs low.
Frequently asked questions
Why do lawyers bill in tenths of an hour instead of by the minute?+
It is a long-standing convention that makes time entries easy to total and easy to compare across timekeepers. A six-minute phone call is billed as 0.1 hours rather than as an odd fraction.
Should filing fees and other costs be marked up?+
No. Disbursements are normally passed through at the exact amount paid. Marking up court costs is viewed poorly by clients and, in some jurisdictions, by bar regulators.
How should a retainer be shown on the invoice?+
List it as a negative line item for the amount applied against the current balance due, and state the remaining retainer on file in the notes so the client always knows their trust balance.
What happens if a client disputes a line item?+
Keep contemporaneous time entries so any disputed entry can be explained by date and task. Most firms will adjust or write off a genuinely unclear entry rather than argue over a few tenths of an hour.
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Use this exampleLast reviewed March 2026
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