1. What every attorney invoice must include

A compliant attorney invoice has eight parts: your business name and contact info, a unique invoice number, issue date, payment due date, the customer's name and address, an itemized list of work, the total amount due, and accepted payment methods. If you're collecting sales tax, that line is required too.

2. Set your line items

Most attorneys structure invoices around these 4 categories:

Hourly billing — billed by hour at a ~$350 default.
Flat fee — service — billed by flat.
Filing fees (cost advance) — billed by itemized.
Trust deposit (IOLTA) — billed by flat.

3. Set payment terms

The standard for attorneys is Net 30 — payment due within 30 days of the invoice date. Most attorneys also require a 100% deposit upfront before starting work. Spell out late-fee terms (most states cap monthly late fees around 1.5%) and accepted payment methods on the invoice itself.

4. Licensing & legal disclosures

Bar admission required. Trust accounting (IOLTA) governed by state bar rules; commingling client funds is sanctionable.

5. Send and follow up

Send the invoice the same day work is completed (or upon milestone for larger projects). Use software that tracks opens and lets the customer pay by card or bank transfer in one click — the average attorney-class invoice gets paid 2× faster when the customer can pay online without leaving their inbox.

Average invoice

$2,800

Standard terms

Net 30

Typical deposit

100%

BLS code

23-1011

State-by-state attorney invoicing guides

State rules differ on sales tax, statutory late fees, and contractor disclosure requirements. Pick your state for a guide tuned to local law.

How to Invoice as a Attorney: Step-by-Step Guide