Stage 0 — Pre-Sign Due Diligence

Engagement Letter Review Checklist

Generate an educational checklist of provisions to look for — and red flags to challenge — in a draft engagement letter or fee agreement, plus an optional “questions before signing” letter you can email to the prospective attorney. Self-contained, no signup, nothing leaves your browser.

Educational tool, not legal advice. This is a free document-generation utility provided by the Open Bankruptcy Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 41-5159631). The tool produces an educational checklist and template language only. The content, accuracy, and use of any output are solely the user’s responsibility. No attorney-client relationship is created. Consult a licensed attorney for advice specific to your situation.

Why review BEFORE signing?

Engagement-letter and fee-agreement terms are mostly enforceable as written. Once you sign, the document becomes the contract that governs scope, fees, withdrawal, file return, and dispute resolution — and many ambiguities will be resolved against you, not the lawyer who drafted it.

Front-end is the cheapest leverage you have. A 30-minute review and a short list of clarifying questions, asked in writing before you sign, is dramatically cheaper than litigating the same questions later.

Review Inputs

About You

If you are signing the engagement on behalf of a business entity, name it here. Otherwise leave blank.

Prospective Attorney

Drives the rule citations used in the checklist. For any state not listed, the default ABA Model Rule text is used.

Matter Type

Fee Structure Proposed

Concerns to Flag

Check anything in the draft that looks unclear or unusual. Each box adds a tailored question to the “questions before signing” letter.

Optional Output

Live Preview

Reminder: Educational checklist + template language only. Review every item against your specific draft, your specific state’s rules, and your specific facts. The Open Bankruptcy Project does not represent you and does not certify any output.
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Where this fits in the broader methodology

One more reminder: Educational tool, not legal advice. The Open Bankruptcy Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 41-5159631) providing free informational resources. Consult a licensed attorney before signing any engagement letter or sending any legal correspondence. The accuracy and content of any output generated by this tool are solely the user’s responsibility.

This site provides general information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for your specific situation.