Legal invoice generator

Browser-based tool. Invoice data stays in your browser only and is not sent to our servers. Nothing is saved automatically between visits - print or save your invoice as a PDF before closing this page. See our full disclaimer.

Invoice details

From (your firm)

Firm or attorney name

Address / contact info

Bill to (client)

Client name

Matter description

Invoice info

Invoice number

Invoice date

Due date

Line items

Tax rate % (optional)

Notes / payment instructions

Need full billing and invoicing software?

If your firm needs recurring invoicing, online payments, or trust accounting built in, talk to a legal practice consultant about options that fit your size and budget.

What should a legal invoice always include?

A defensible legal invoice identifies the firm and client clearly, states an invoice number and date for recordkeeping, itemizes the work performed rather than listing a single lump sum, and specifies payment terms and due date. Clients, especially corporate clients with outside counsel guidelines, increasingly expect this level of detail and may push back on vague, undetailed bills.

If you're tracking hours as you go rather than entering them all at invoice time, our legal time tracker logs entries by client and matter that you can transfer directly into an invoice like this one. For matters billed on contingency rather than hourly, our contingency fee calculator handles that different fee structure, and setting expectations upfront with a clear intake process reduces billing disputes down the line.

How itemized should a legal invoice actually be?

More detail is generally better, both for client trust and for your own protection if a bill is ever questioned. Rather than a single line reading "Legal services rendered - $3,500," breaking work into specific dated entries with brief descriptions - "Reviewed and revised draft contract," "Client call re: settlement strategy" - gives the client a clear picture of where their money went and reduces the likelihood of disputes.

What payment terms are typical for legal invoices?

Net 30 (payment due within 30 days) is common, though some firms use shorter terms like Net 15, especially for smaller balances or new clients. Whatever terms you choose, stating them explicitly on the invoice avoids ambiguity, and many firms include a note about late payment terms or interest on overdue balances if applicable under their engagement agreement.

Frequently asked questions about legal invoicing

Not necessarily. A clean, itemized invoice, whether generated with a simple tool like this one or dedicated billing software, accomplishes the core goal of clear communication with your client. Dedicated software adds features like automated recurring billing and payment processing, which matter more as a firm scales, but aren't required for sending a professional invoice.

Yes, generally. If you're drawing fees from a client trust account, most jurisdictions' ethics rules require clear documentation of the withdrawal, and showing it on the invoice itself, along with the remaining trust balance, is standard practice and often required by your state bar's trust accounting rules.

Yes, interim or progress invoicing during an ongoing matter is common and often preferable to a single invoice at the end, both for your cash flow and for keeping the client informed of accumulating costs as the matter progresses. Many engagement letters specify a regular invoicing cadence, like monthly, for exactly this reason.

Address disputes promptly and directly with the client rather than letting them accumulate silently, since unresolved billing disagreements can escalate into larger relationship problems or even bar complaints in rare cases. Clear, itemized invoices from the start reduce disputes significantly, since clients can see exactly what they're being charged for.

This varies significantly by state - most states do not tax legal services, but a handful do apply sales tax to at least some categories of legal work. Check your specific state's rule, since incorrectly charging or failing to charge applicable tax can create compliance issues down the line.