What should a retainer agreement include?

• A. Scope of representation and basic terms.
• B. Judicial rulings related to the case.
• C. Opposing party's financial information.
• D. Expected court dates and outcomes.

Answer: (A)

A retainer agreement should clearly define what the lawyer will do for the client and under what terms. The most important part is outlining the scope of representation and the basic terms. This means specifying what matters the attorney will handle, who will work on the matter, and what is not included, so both sides know the boundaries of the engagement. It also covers how fees and costs will be handled—how the retainer is paid, the billing method (hourly or flat rate), the rate for different services, how costs like filing fees or expert expenses are charged, when payments are due, and what happens to any unused retainer.

The agreement should also address practical aspects like how you’ll communicate, how decisions will be made, how the engagement can be terminated, and how conflicts of interest are managed. This combination of scope and terms protects both client and attorney and provides a clear roadmap for the relationship.

Judicial rulings related to the case belong to the case record, not the contract. Opposing party's financial information is not something a retainer typically contains. Expected court dates and outcomes are speculative and not guaranteed in a retainer; the agreement focuses on the relationship and payment terms, not predicting results.