Engagement Letter: Flat Fee Arrangement
(MD)

Summary

This template is an engagement letter that can be used to enter into and formalize an attorney-client relationship for a civil litigation matter in Maryland state court on a flat fee basis. A flat fee means charging for a predefined service at a fixed rate. This template includes practical guidance, drafting notes, and an optional clause. Flat fee arrangements can be useful in small or repetitive cases such as small claims or subrogation matters. This form is customized for a corporate client. An engagement letter must contain certain essential information, such as the client's identity, the intended scope of the contemplated legal work, and the fee arrangement (including billing frequency). This form provides for a flat fee arrangement, which is atypical in litigation matters. For a form of hourly fee agreement, see Engagement Letter: Hourly Fee Arrangement (MD). For a form of contingent fee agreement, which is often used by plaintiff's attorneys, especially in personal injury litigation, see Engagement Letter: Contingency Fee Arrangement (MD). If you will be jointly representing multiple parties, you should include provisions: • Disclosing the potential for conflicts of interest and provisions • Covering potential termination of interest should a conflict arise • Explaining the possible impact on attorney-client privilege of such an arrangement and its termination For a form non-engagement letter, see Non-engagement Letter (MD).