Employment Dispute Service Invoice

Descriptions should be detailed enough to justify the time spent to a client or a court, but general enough to protect attorney-client privilege. Use phrases like "Review of employment agreement regarding severance terms" rather than listing specific confidential allegations discussed. This balances transparency with legal ethics.

You must issue the invoice directly to your client, as they remain responsible for your contract, but format the line items clearly so they can be easily submitted for reimbursement or court-ordered fee-shifting. Ensure all hours are meticulously itemized, as courts review these entries closely before awarding fees. Keep a separate record of the payment transfer once the opposing party complies.

Yes, you can charge interest on late payments if this policy was explicitly stated in your initial engagement letter or retainer agreement. The standard industry practice is to charge between 1% and 1.5% interest per month on unpaid balances. Make sure the late fee policy and interest rate are prominently displayed on the invoice itself.

If you are drawing funds from a retainer or trust account, the invoice must show the starting trust balance, the amount deducted for the current invoice, and the remaining trust balance. This provides the client with an ongoing, transparent ledger of their funds and complies with professional responsibility rules. Always send this statement to the client even if no new out-of-pocket payment is required.