An engagement letter is generally specific to professional services, such as accounting, consulting, or legal services. A contract, on the other hand, is a broader term that can apply to any agreement involving two parties, irrespective of the nature of their engagement.
Once a contract or retainer agreement has been signed between both parties, there's no question that privilege applies. Nonetheless, it generally starts before a contract is officially signed, even if you ultimately do not hire the attorney you had a consultation with.
This is a legal contract between the law firm and the client setting forth the terms of the legal services to be provided and how the client will be charged for the services.
Tell them you've been thinking about how a long-term arrangement would help them better accomplish their business goals. Then, if they're open to the idea, offer to write up a monthly retainer proposal that lays out everything you'd provide—and the value of working with you on a long-term basis.
Once a contract or retainer agreement has been signed between both parties, there's no question that privilege applies. Nonetheless, it generally starts before a contract is officially signed, even if you ultimately do not hire the attorney you had a consultation with.
What is a retainer agreement? A retainer agreement is a long-term work-for-hire contract between a company and a client that retains ongoing services from you (as a consulting business) and provides you with a stable amount of payments.
This is a legal contract between the law firm and the client setting forth the terms of the legal services to be provided and how the client will be charged for the services.
In a much-anticipated ruling, the California Supreme Court held on December 29, 2016 that legal invoices are protected by the attorney-client privilege, and therefore, with some exceptions, need not be disclosed under the Public Records Act.