A Client’s Guide: How To Read Your Legal Invoice

Opening a lawyer’s invoice can feel unfamiliar, with new terms, decimal hours, and detailed line items. This guide is designed to walk you through your invoice so you can review it with confidence and clarity.

1. Invoice Summary

Most legal invoices begin with a summary that provides an at a glance overview of the total charges. The summary typically includes the following:

• Invoice number
• Date of the invoice
• Date the invoice is due
• Amount due, inclusive of tax
• Retainer balance/amount in trust, if applicable
• Any previous outstanding invoices, if applicable
• Who performed the tasks, often referred to as the “timekeeper” (partner, associate, law clerk, student)

2. Understanding the Billing Structure