Lawyer Invoice Template
A lawyer invoice bills hr, lists labour, services and fees on separate lines and states the terms (Net 30, or applied from the retainer held in trust). This template is pre-filled for review and negotiate a commercial lease for a small business tenant and form its LLC: 7 lines totalling $4,743.00 before tax. Edit it and download the PDF.
Pre-filled for a lawyer: review and negotiate a commercial lease for a small business tenant and form its llc. Example prices: replace them with your own.
From
Cedar Hill Law
613 Market Street
Georgetown, TX 78626
billing@example.com
(512) 555-0113
Invoice
Bill to
Riley Chen
14 Elm Street
Franklin, TN 37064
client@example.com
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | 1 hr | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Lease review and redlineAttorney time in 0.1-hour increments | 6.4 hr | $325.00 | $2,080.00 |
| Negotiation calls and correspondence with landlord's counsel | 3.2 hr | $325.00 | $1,040.00 |
| Paralegal: lease abstract and exhibit preparation | 2.5 hr | $140.00 | $350.00 |
| LLC formation, flat feeArticles of organization, operating agreement, EIN application | 1 project | $850.00 | $850.00 |
| State LLC filing fee, advanced cost | 1 each | $125.00 | $125.00 |
| Certified copies and courier, advanced cost | 1 lot | $48.00 | $48.00 |
- Subtotal
- $4,743.00
- Balance due
- $4,743.00
Notes
Thank you for choosing Cedar Hill Law. Terms: Net 30, or applied from the retainer held in trust.
Payment details
Bank transfer or card. Please quote the invoice number.
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Lawyer invoice at a glance
| Typical job | Review and negotiate a commercial lease for a small business tenant and form its LLC |
|---|---|
| Main billing unit | hr |
| Usual payment terms | Net 30, or applied from the retainer held in trust |
| Deposit practice | An advance retainer is common for hourly matters; it usually sits in the firm's client trust account until fees are earned and billed. |
| Sample lines | 7 lines, $4,743.00 before tax |
| Largest line | Lease review and redline: $2,080.00 (44%) |
| Labour hours billed | 13.1 h, $3,720.00 |
| Trade-specific fields | Matter name, Matter no., Billing period, Responsible attorney, Trust balance |
Sample lawyer invoice line items
Review and negotiate a commercial lease for a small business tenant and form its LLC: 7 lines adding up to $4,743.00, split into labour $3,720.00 (78%), services $850.00 (18%) and fees $173.00 (4%).
| Item | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | 1 hr | $250.00 | $250.00 |
| Lease review and redline (Attorney time in 0.1-hour increments) | 6.4 hr | $325.00 | $2,080.00 |
| Negotiation calls and correspondence with landlord's counsel | 3.2 hr | $325.00 | $1,040.00 |
| Paralegal: lease abstract and exhibit preparation | 2.5 hr | $140.00 | $350.00 |
| LLC formation, flat fee (Articles of organization, operating agreement, EIN application) | 1 project | $850.00 | $850.00 |
| State LLC filing fee, advanced cost | 1 each | $125.00 | $125.00 |
| Certified copies and courier, advanced cost | 1 lot | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| Subtotal | $4,743.00 | ||
| Total before tax | $4,743.00 |
What a lawyer invoice should include
- Your law practice name, address, phone and email, plus a tax ID if you are registered
- The customer's name and billing address (Riley Chen in the sample)
- A unique invoice number (INV-3515) and the issue date
- Payment terms and a due date: Net 30, or applied from the retainer held in trust
- Matter name: for example Review and negotiate a commercial lease for a small business tenant and form its LLC
- Matter no.: for example Review and negotiate a commercial lease for a small business tenant and form its LLC
- Billing period: for example 14 November 2026
- Responsible attorney: for example See notes
- Line items in hr or per item, each with quantity, rate and amount
- How to pay you: bank details, card link or cheque payee
How lawyers bill
Lawyers usually bill hourly in tenths of an hour against an advance retainer, while routine matters such as LLC formations or simple wills are often flat fees.
Lawyers commonly use "Net 30, or applied from the retainer held in trust", so payment is due 30 days after the invoice date. An advance retainer is common for hourly matters; it usually sits in the firm's client trust account until fees are earned and billed.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Lawyers $72.67 (employees, not contractor rates). The sample's $250.00 per hour for "Initial consultation" is 3.4 times that employee figure; a business rate also has to cover insurance, tools, travel, unbilled admin time and profit.
Lawyer invoicing tips
- Record time in tenths of an hour with the date, timekeeper and a specific task, such as 0.4 revise assignment clause per landlord counsel comments, because block entries like legal research 3.0 are what clients challenge.
- Show the trust account activity on every statement: the starting retainer, the amount applied to this invoice and the remaining balance.
- List filing fees, certified copies and courier charges as advanced costs at the amount paid, separate from legal fees, so the client can see which part of the bill is the firm's earnings.
- Bill paralegal and attorney time on separate lines at their own rates with the timekeeper's initials, so the client sees routine work was not charged at the attorney's rate.
- When an insurer or employer pays the bill, keep privileged detail out of the descriptions while still naming each task well enough to justify the time.
Lawyer billing disputes to head off
- Vague entries such as attention to file or review documents invite write-downs; naming the document and the purpose of the work defends each tenth of an hour.
- Drawing on the retainer without first sending an itemized statement leaves the client unable to see what the money paid for; send the statement, then show the transfer from trust.
Work a lawyer can bill for
Core tasks of Lawyers (O*NET 23-1011.00, O*NET 29.x task statements, CC BY 4.0). Each can become a line on the invoice.
- Advise clients concerning business transactions, claim liability, advisability of prosecuting or defending lawsuits, or legal rights and obligations.
- Interpret laws, rulings and regulations for individuals and businesses.
- Analyze the probable outcomes of cases, using knowledge of legal precedents.
- Evaluate findings and develop strategies and arguments in preparation for presentation of cases.
- Gather evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case.
- Represent clients in court or before government agencies.
How to make a lawyer invoice
-
Add both parties
Enter Cedar Hill Law (your business) and the customer, Riley Chen, then matter name.
-
Number and terms
Give it a unique number such as INV-3515 and set the terms to Net 30, or applied from the retainer held in trust.
-
List the work
One line per item: the sample runs from "Initial consultation" (1 hr) to "Certified copies and courier, advanced cost" (1 lot).
-
Check the total
The 7 lines come to $4,743.00; add sales tax only if your state taxes legal work.
-
Download and send
Download the PDF or print it, then keep a copy with the legal work records.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a lawyer invoice?
Add your law practice details, the customer, matter name, matter no., billing period and responsible attorney, then one line per item with quantity and rate. The template above is pre-filled with 7 lines for review and negotiate a commercial lease for a small business tenant and form its LLC totalling $4,743.00; change the prices and download the PDF.
How do lawyers charge?
Mostly hr. Lawyers usually bill hourly in tenths of an hour against an advance retainer, while routine matters such as LLC formations or simple wills are often flat fees.
When should a lawyer invoice be paid?
Net 30, or applied from the retainer held in trust is the usual arrangement. An advance retainer is common for hourly matters; it usually sits in the firm's client trust account until fees are earned and billed. Put the terms and the due date on the invoice so there is no doubt.
How much do lawyers earn per hour?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024: median hourly wage of Lawyers $72.67 (employees, not contractor rates). Self-employed rates are usually higher because they cover overhead and unbilled time.