Attorney Invoice Template
An attorney invoice template is a time-and-task record: consultation hours, case retainers, document review, and court appearances each become a line, so the client can see exactly what work was performed and how the retainer is being drawn down.
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Invoice
Billed to
Payment terms
| Legal service | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|
Notes
Payment
Legal billing and matter management
This template is free and stays free — keep using it for as long as it does the job. It stops doing the job once trust accounting, matter tracking, and client portals need a real practice management system.
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How to write a attorney invoice
Add your work lines
Pick consultation, document review, court appearance, or type your own. Set quantity to hours or appearances.
Set retainer and terms
Enter your rates, add disbursements, and set payment terms. Retainers are drawn down against work entries.
Print or save as PDF
Hit Print and choose Save as PDF. Send it with the engagement summary — everything stays on your device.
Typical attorney prices to sanity-check your invoice
Rates vary by region, attorney size, and scope. These ranges reflect common US attorney pricing and are here as a gut check, not a rate card.
| Service | Common pricing method | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation | Per hour | $200 – $400 |
| Document review | Per hour | $150 – $300 |
| Court appearance | Per half/full day | $500 – $1,500+ |
| Contract drafting | Per document | $400 – $1,200 |
| Paralegal time | Per hour | $80 – $150 |
| Filing fees | Passed through at cost | $50 – $500 |
Ranges are general market observations, not a recommendation for what to charge.
Attorney invoice essentials: time entries, retainers, and disbursements
Legal billing lives on detailed time entries. This template keeps consultation hours, document review, court appearances, and paralegal time on separate lines, with disbursements like filing fees passed through at cost, so the client can verify the work before they pay.
On pricing, attorneys commonly bill $200–$400 per hour for consultation and document work, $500–$1,500+ for court appearances, and flat fees for defined documents. Paralegal time runs $80–$150 per hour. Retainers are drawn down against these entries, and the invoice should show the remaining balance.
Set terms that match your engagement: many firms bill monthly against the retainer with a replenishment due when it drops below a threshold. Use the Terms dropdown to set Due on receipt, Net 7, Net 14, or Net 30.
Attorney invoice questions
What should an attorney invoice include?
Your firm name, the client and matter name, a unique invoice number and date, itemized time entries with date and task, disbursements like filing fees, the total due, and payment terms.
How do attorneys bill clients?
Most bill by the hour with detailed time entries, or on a flat fee for defined work like contract drafting. Retainers are drawn down against those entries — the invoice should show the retainer balance and what remains.
Should I show retainer drawdowns on the invoice?
Yes. Clients expect to see the starting retainer, the work performed against it, and the remaining balance. Add the retainer as a negative line or state it in the Notes so the math is transparent.
Can I bill disbursements separately?
Yes — filing fees, process serving, and travel are typically passed through at cost as separate lines. Many firms add a small markup only where their engagement letter allows.
Do I charge sales tax on legal services?
Most states exempt legal services from sales tax, but some transactions or expenses may be taxable. Confirm with your state bar. Not tax advice.
Is this attorney invoice template really free?
Yes. No account, no signup, no export limit. Everything runs in your browser and the details you type are never transmitted anywhere — you can even use it offline.
Attorney invoice formats & related guides
More industry templates are added as they ship.