Terms form

Intro

For each case, SRL prepares a form titled, “Terms of Service.”

Note

For the sake of brevity, SRL may refer to the “Terms of Service” as the “Terms” and to the form itself as the “Terms form.”

Here is an image of the Terms of Service form:

Attorney, client & case

At the top of the Terms form is a spot to indicate the name of the attorney, the name of the Client, and caption or other description of the Case to which the terms will apply.

Basic terms

The next section, “What are the basics?", describes the basic terms:

Client must pay SRL the flat fee below for any standard services. The fee is earned upon receipt. It is normally not refundable. It is put into a SRL operating account.

…

Client must pay SRL the retainer below and/or bill for any non-standard services, per SRL’s hourly fee schedule, and for expenses, at cost. The retainer is not earned upon receipt. It is normally refundable. It is initially put into a SRL trust account.

…

Note

There is a difference between what service is to be provided (e.g., representation), and how that service will be provided (e.g., standard vs. non-standard). The former deals with the substance of the service. The latter with the procedure.

Flat fee

Underneath the paragraph related to the flat fee, there is a spot to fill in the flat fee (if any), the due date, and the service to be provided (i.e., representation, consultation, or evaluation).

There is also a spot to indicate if the services to be provided are “uncontested only (i.e., whether contested events/activities are included in the fee).

If the service is representation, there is also a spot to indicate the included events or activities.

Retainer

Underneath the paragraph related to the retainer, there is a spot to fill in the retainer (if any), the due date, and the service or expense for which the retainer is being paid.

Detailed terms

To the right of the basic terms, the form explains that for the detailed terms, you can scan the QR code or ask for a link, PDF, or hardcopy. That is what this article is a part of (i.e., the details).

In the last sentence of the same paragraph, it says, “See also,” with some lines underneath. The lines are to list the other completed forms that are incorporated by reference (if any).

Those documents may include a “Payment Plan, “Notice,” and “Other Terms.”

Payment plan

Here is an image of the Payment Plan form:

The form speaks for itself.

Notice

Here is an image of the Notice form:

The form speaks for itself.

Note

This is a repeat of a Term of Service. If it is provided to the Client in a separate document, that normally means SRL has specific cause to be concerned about full and timely payment of the proposed flat fee for standard services.

Other terms

Here is an image of the Other Terms form:

The form speaks for itself.

Agreement

The next section, “Do you agree to the terms?”, has a spot for the attorney, the Client, and any cosigner to sign and date to show that s/he agrees to the terms.

Underneath each of them, there is also a spot for SRL to indicate proof of delivery.

Note

See this article for why we ask for the agreement and show proof of delivery.

To the right, the form clarifies that the “terms” include the basics and the details.

PDF

If you would like a PDF of the detailed terms, which includes everything, click/tap this link.