AvoLegal Invoice Template (Free Fillable PDF)
A legal invoice is read by a client who is already anxious about the cost, so it has to show exactly what was done, by whom, for how long and at what rate, with costs separated from fees and the retainer applied in plain sight. Bar rules in most states also require the invoice to be clear enough that a client can question any entry. This template does that on one page for a small practice: matter, time entries in tenths, flat-fee lines, costs, retainer credit and the trust balance remaining.
Free, fillable, US Letter. No email, no sign-up. Fill in the firm details once. For each matter change the client, the matter line and the entries.
What the PDF looks like. The hints in the line table show the lines a attorney typically bills; type over them.
Why legal invoices get paid late
Block billing
“Research and drafting, 6.4 h” gets questioned and, in some fee disputes, cut. One entry per task with its own time.
Costs mixed with fees
Filing fees, process servers and copies are reimbursements, not fees. Separate section, receipts available.
Retainer not shown
The client paid $3,000 up front and the invoice shows $2,100 due with no credit. They call. Show the retainer applied and the trust balance remaining.
What to include on a legal invoice
- Firm name, address, contact and the attorney responsibleBar number optional but common on invoices to business clients.
- Client name and matter name and number“Whitfield v. Larkspur HOA, matter 2026-017”. Every entry on the invoice belongs to this matter.
- Invoice number, date, due date and billing period“Services through March 31, 2026”.
- Time entries: date, timekeeper, description, hours in tenths, rate, amountPartner, associate and paralegal rates on separate entries.
- Flat-fee itemsDocument review package, uncontested filing: one line, no hours.
- Costs advancedFiling fees, service of process, court reporter, copies. Separate subtotal.
- Retainer or trust funds applied, trust balance remainingCredit line, then the balance held in trust so the client knows when to replenish.
- Payment termsDue on receipt or Net 15 is standard; many firms add that the trust will be replenished to the agreed amount.
Example legal invoice
Lines a typical job produces. Labor and materials are separate, and anything already paid is a negative line so the total is the balance due.
| Description | Qty × rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 03/04 JM: Review lease and HOA covenants, memo to client | 1.3 h × $325.00 | $422.50 |
| 03/07 JM: Draft demand letter, revise after client comments | 2.1 h × $325.00 | $682.50 |
| 03/12 KP (paralegal): Compile exhibits, certified mail | 1.5 h × $120.00 | $180.00 |
| Costs: certified mail and copies | $24.60 | |
| Retainer applied from trust | −$1,000.00 | |
| Total due | $309.60 | |
How to use the template
- Download the PDFIt is a fillable form: open it in any PDF reader, on a computer or a phone.
- Fill in your details onceBusiness name, contact, license number, terms. Save it as your master copy.
- Add the job and sendChange the client, the lines and the invoice number for each attorney job. Export and send by email or text.
Fill it on your iPhone in a minute instead
Avo keeps your clients and your usual line items, so the next invoice is three taps. Your first three documents are free, full-quality PDF, no watermark. Premium from $59.99/year if you invoice often.
Scan the code with your iPhone camera to open Avo in the App Store, or email yourself the link.
Questions
What has to be on an attorney invoice?
Most state bar rules require that a bill be clear enough for the client to understand what was done: the matter, each service with its date and time, the rate, costs separated from fees, and how any retainer was applied. Several states require itemized time entries on request.
Why bill in tenths of an hour?
Six-minute increments are the profession's standard and what clients and courts expect. Billing in quarter hours on a legal invoice invites a fee dispute; billing in tenths with a task per entry rarely does.
How do I show a retainer on the invoice?
Bill the full fees and costs, then a negative line “Retainer applied from trust”, then a note with the trust balance remaining. The client sees the work, the credit and what is left in one glance.
Can a paralegal's time be billed?
Yes, at the paralegal rate, on its own entries with the timekeeper's initials. Clerical work (scheduling, copying) is usually overhead and should not be billed as paralegal time.
What payment terms do law firms use?
Due on receipt or Net 15 for hourly matters, with replenishment of the retainer. Flat-fee matters are often billed half on engagement and half on completion.