Dictionary of Law
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retainer :: legal definition


Retainer - n. the advance payment to an attorney for services to be performed, intended to insure that the lawyer will represent the client and that the lawyer will be paid at least that amount. Commonly in matters which will involve extensive work there will be a retainer agreement signed by the attorney and client. Further payments for services can be expected as the time spent on the legal matter increases. Most lawyers do not want to be owed money and wish to be paid either in advance or promptly as the work is performed. One reason for the retainer, and the problem a lawyer faces, is that he/she does not want to abandon a client, but at the same time does not want to be stuck with extensive unpaid fees.


Related Law Terms

acceptance of service :: n. agreement by a defendant (or his/her attorney) ... o accept service. See also: service
appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance
arbitrator :: n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as ... he other two. See also: arbitration
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
attorney-client privilege :: n. the requirement that an attorney may not reveal ... ivileged communication work product
attorney's advertising :: n. the commercials which appear on television or c ... es to handle high volume practices.
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
attorney's work product :: n. written materials, charts, notes of conversatio ... ivileged communication work product
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
clerk :: n. 1) an official or employee who handles the busi ... stocking shelves, or counter sales.
commingling :: n. the act of mixing the funds belonging to one pa ... rust accounts for funds of another.
contingent fee :: n. a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable ... epend on the outcome are unethical.
counsel :: 1) n. a lawyer, attorney, attorney-at-law, counsel ... self is a crime. See also: attorney
criminal attorney :: n. a popular term for an attorney who specializes ... . See also: crime felon misdemeanor
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
defense attorney :: n. 1) the attorney representing the defendant in a ... lso: defendant plaintiff's attorney
disbar :: v. to remove an attorney from the list of practici ... legal ethics. (See moral turpitude
evidence :: n. every type of proof legally presented at trial ... material object objection relevant
fictitious defendants :: n. when a party suing (plaintiff) is not sure if h ... are not permitted in federal cases.
foreclosure :: n. the system by which a party who has loaned mone ... ced sale mortgage notice of default
grace period :: n. a time stated in a contract in which a late pay ... the contract, i.e. your insurance.
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
independent contractor :: n. a person or business which performs services fo ... ue independence. See also: employee
irrelevant :: adj. not important, pertinent, or germane to the m ... ce immaterial incompetent objection
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
jury fees :: n. the rather minimal amount paid each day to juro ... ees as a court cost. See also: jury
labor and materials :: (time and materials) n. what some builders or repa ... track of actual labor hours worked.
legal advertising :: n. 1) notices of probate sales and other documents ... quality of the lawyers advertising.
mail box rule :: n. in contract law, making a written offer or acce ... nse in hand when the time runs out.
malpractice :: n. An act or continuing conduct of a professional ... eed. See also: errors and omissions
meet and confer :: n. a requirement of courts that before certain typ ... s which are freighted with emotion.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
option :: n. a right to purchase property or require another ... ng or upon expiration of the lease.
plaintiff's attorney :: n. the attorney who represents a plaintiff (the su ... ee also: defense attorney plaintiff
privileged communication :: n. statements and conversations made under circums ... See also: attorney-client privilege
quantum meruit :: : (kwahn-tuhm mare-ooh-it) n. Latin for "as much a ... uit by implying a contract existed.
service :: n. 1) paid work by another person, either by contr ... ersonal services service of process
service by mail :: n. mailing legal pleadings to opposing attorneys o ... attorney by mail. See also: service
special appearance :: n. the representation by an attorney of a person i ... anged. See also: general appearance
summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ
Thirty-day notice :: n. a notice by a landlord to a tenant on a month-t ... e also: landlord and tenant service
work product :: n. the writings, notes, memoranda, reports on conv ... ies to be employed by the attorney.

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - R

race to the courthouse :: n. slang for the rule that the first deed, deed of ... e also: deed judgment lien mortgage
Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organization (RICO) statue :: n. a federal law which makes it a crime for organi ... s to operate legitimate businesses.
racketeering :: n. the federal crime of conspiring to organize to ... ("organized crime" or "the Mafia").
ransom :: 1) n. money paid to a kidnapper in demand for the ... ive. See also: abduction kidnapping
rape :: 1) n. the crime of sexual intercourse (with actual ... See also: date rape statutory rape
ratable :: adj. taxable according to value, such as an estate ... lue, such as an estate or property.
ratification :: n. confirmation of an action which was not pre-app ... mployee). See also: agent principal
ratify :: v. to confirm and adopt the act of another even th ... ligation. See also: agent principal
rational basis :: n. a test of constitutionality of a statute, askin ... imate and constitutional objective.
ready, willing and able :: adj. fully prepared to act, as in performing a con ... o act, as in performing a contract.
real estate :: n. land, improvements and buildings thereon, inclu ... the future. See also: real property
real estate investment trust :: n. nicknamed REIT, a real estate investment organi ... its upon sale-if there is a profit.
real party in interest :: n. the person or entity who will benefit from a la ... st is the beneficiary of the trust.
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
realty :: n. a short form of "real estate." See also: real e ... real estate." See also: real estate
reasonable :: adj., adv. in law, just, rational, appropriate, or ... ost of other actions or activities.
reasonable care :: n. the degree of caution and concern for the safet ... . See also: duty of care negligence
reasonable doubt :: n. not being sure of a criminal defendant's guilt ... also: preponderance of the evidence
reasonable reliance :: n. particularly in contracts, what a prudent perso ... the following:." See also: contract
reasonable speed :: n. the speed of an automobile determined to be low ... e speed limit. See also: negligence