Free Legal Invoice Template
Create a professional legal invoice in minutes
Show the legal work and whether you billed by the hour, by task or at an agreed fee. Clients can see what the charge covers and pay your firm.
Email, print or download your invoice as a PDF.
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Create the invoice. Send it. Get back to work.
Choose a Legal Invoice Layout
Browse these legal invoice previews for consultations, casework, or document services. Each preview opens the same invoice editor.
Connect the Legal Fee to the Work
Help the client match each legal fee to the work you did. Use a short matter reference and service date to identify the work without repeating the case file.
Say how you charged for the consultation, court appearance or contract review. List hourly work, fixed fees and agreed expenses separately so the client can check each amount.
How to Create a Legal Invoice
Check the fee agreement and your billing records. The steps below show where to put each detail.
- Add the Firm: Enter the practice name and contact details for billing questions.
- Add the Firm’s Logo: Use the logo and design your client recognizes.
- Check the Client: Confirm the billing name and who should receive the invoice.
- Set the Number and Dates: Use a unique invoice number. Set the invoice date and agreed due date.
- Describe the Legal Work: Name the matter and service dates. Add the tasks and their hours or agreed fees.
- Review the Calculation: Check each rate and any tax or discount. Docelf calculates the total.
- State the Payment Terms: Add payment instructions in Terms and Conditions. Check them against the fee agreement, then review and send the invoice.
How to Fill In Legal Invoice Line Items
A separate line for each billed task lets the client check the time and rate. Enter time as decimal hours: 2 hours 15 minutes is 2.25 hours. For a fixed fee, enter 1 in QTY and the agreed price in Unit Price. Keep the description focused on the service rather than confidential advice.
This fictional contract review invoice uses USD. The fixed revision fee covers work outside the hourly review. All three fees have an 8% tax in this example only.
| QTY | Description | Unit Price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | Initial consultation — Sep 2, 2026 — hours | $250.00 | $125.00 |
| 2.25 | Contract review — Sep 3, 2026 — hours | $250.00 | $562.50 |
| 1 | Agreed revision — Sep 4, 2026 — fixed fee | $175.00 | $175.00 |
| Subtotal | $862.50 | |
| Sales Tax (8% example) | $69.00 | |
| Total | $931.50 |
The fees and tax rate are examples only. Check which of your practice’s services and expenses need tax. Use the rate that applies in your location.
What to Include in Legal Invoice Terms
Use Terms and Conditions to refer back to the fee agreement and state when payment is due. Give the client a clear payment reference and a contact for questions about the bill.
Keep the invoice consistent with the agreement rather than adding new fee conditions. For expenses, explain what the charge covers. Adapt this wording to your practice’s agreed billing terms.
Example: Terms and Conditions
- This invoice covers the listed work for [Matter Reference] under [Fee Agreement Reference].
- Payment is due on [Agreed Due Date].
- Please pay by [Accepted Payment Method] and use [Invoice Number] as the payment reference.
- Direct questions about fees or expenses to [Billing Contact].
Finish the Invoice for This Matter
Enter the agreed hours and fees. Docelf calculates the total. Check the client details before you email the invoice or download a PDF.
Make Hourly Fees, Fixed Fees and Expenses Clear
Time-Based Work
The date, task, hours, and rate explain a time-based fee. Work charged at different rates belongs on separate lines so the client can follow the calculation. Use the time and billing increments from your records and agreement.
Agreed Fixed Fees
A fixed fee covers the service you agreed to provide, such as reviewing a specified document. Name that service on the invoice. Additional agreed work gets its own line only when it falls outside the original fee.
Expenses and Earlier Payments
An agreed expense needs a description the client can match to the matter. Keep it separate from your professional fee when it was priced separately. Earlier payments belong in the payment record only when they were actually applied to this bill; client-funds records stay in your practice’s existing system. Docelf is not accounting software.
Keep Case Detail Out of Routine Billing Copy
A matter reference and short task description usually explain the fee without repeating advice, strategy, or case records. Check who will receive the invoice before sharing it, especially when someone other than the client handles payment.
A billing summary can provide useful supporting detail when it is appropriate to share. Docelf accepts PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, and WebP attachments up to 5 MB each. Follow your practice’s confidentiality requirements when choosing the information and delivery method.
Use your firm’s logo, fonts and colors so clients recognize the bill. Put the billing contact details in the footer.
You can add an industry name before “Invoice”. Choose USD, EUR, GBP, CAD or AUD to match the fee agreement.
Keep the Payment Record With the Legal Invoice
Check the invoice history in Docelf for delivery and opening information. This helps you follow up on the right invoice; an opening records that it was viewed, not that the fee was agreed or paid.
Record each payment with its amount and date, then check the remaining balance. After recording a payment, create a receipt from the invoice for the client. Review billing questions against your fee agreement before resending the invoice.
More Legal Invoice Previews
Use one of these examples as a starting point for your matter and billing details. Keep each charge consistent with the fee agreement.
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Blank Legal Invoice Template
Create Free Invoice -
Simple Legal Invoice Template
Create Free Invoice -
Standard Legal Invoice Template
Create Free Invoice -
Itemized Legal Invoice Template
Create Free Invoice -
Basic Legal Invoice Template
Create Free Invoice -
Hourly Legal Invoice Template
Create Free Invoice
Need a Legal Invoice File?
Word or Google Docs suits a bill you want to edit as a document. Excel or Google Sheets can help with hours and rates. These general invoice files are separate from invoices created in Docelf, which download as PDFs. Follow your practice’s rules for storing and sharing the file.
Legal Invoice FAQs
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What belongs on a legal invoice?
Name the firm and client. Add a matter reference and the dates of the work. Describe each task with its hours and rate or fixed fee. List agreed expenses separately. Include the invoice date, due date and payment instructions.
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How much detail should a legal billing description contain?
Include enough detail to explain the fee, such as the service date and a short task description. Keep confidential advice and case strategy out of routine billing copy. Check who will receive the invoice before sharing it.
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Can I use different hourly rates on one legal invoice?
Yes. Put work charged at different rates on separate lines. Show the hours and unit price for each line so the client can follow how you reached the total.
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How do I show fixed fees and expenses?
Name the work covered by each fixed fee. Give agreed expenses their own descriptions and amounts. Do not include an expense in both the fixed fee and a separate charge.
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Does a payment record replace my firm’s client-funds records?
No. Docelf records payments and remaining balances on invoices. It is business document software, not accounting software. Keep client-funds records in your practice’s existing system.
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Can I send a receipt after the client pays?
Yes. Record the payment on the invoice first, then create a receipt from it. The receipt confirms the payment and reuses the relevant invoice details.
Ready to Prepare the Legal Bill?
Send the client a bill that matches the fee agreement.
- Reference the matter and work dates
- Show hours, rates or agreed fees
- Review the bill before sharing it
