Free Lawyer Invoice Template
A free, professional lawyer invoice template for Australian legal practitioners. Download as Word, Excel, or PDF — formatted for hourly billing, fixed-fee work, and itemised professional costs and disbursements.
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| Description | Qty | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional fees — partner (per hour) | 4 | $550.00 | $2,200.00 |
| Professional fees — solicitor (per hour) | 6 | $350.00 | $2,100.00 |
| Court filing fees (disbursement) | 1 | $280.00 | $280.00 |
| Search and inquiry fees (disbursement) | 1 | $95.00 | $95.00 |
| Subtotal | $4,675.00 | ||
| Sales tax (8%) | $374.00 | ||
| Total | $5,049.00 | ||
Example figures — every field is editable in the download.
Who uses this template
- ✓Solicitors and barristers
- ✓Family, commercial, and property lawyers
- ✓Wills and estates practitioners
- ✓Conveyancers
- ✓Migration agents and legal consultants
What to include
- ✓Business name, ABN, and law practice number
- ✓Client name and matter reference
- ✓Itemised professional costs (timesheet detail)
- ✓Disbursements (court fees, search fees, counsel fees)
- ✓GST line on professional fees and applicable disbursements
- ✓Reference to the cost agreement
- ✓Trust account application if applicable
Available in 5 formats
Word (.docx)
Fully editable in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages and LibreOffice — best for quick text edits.
Excel (.xlsx)
Line totals, subtotal and tax calculate automatically — best if you want the math done for you.
A clean, print-ready, fixed layout — best for emailing a finished invoice to a client.
Google Docs / Sheets
Open in your browser, then File → Make a copy to edit and share with your team.
Invoicing tips for lawyer
- ✓ Reference the cost agreement and the matter number on every invoice
- ✓ Itemise time entries by date and activity — clients (and courts) often need this detail
- ✓ GST applies to professional fees but not to all disbursements (court fees are GST-free)
- ✓ For trust account applications, attach the relevant trust statement
- ✓ Comply with your state's Legal Profession Uniform Law requirements for billing
Lawyer invoice FAQ
Are court fees GST-free on a lawyer's invoice?
Yes — court filing fees and most government disbursements are GST-free. Professional fees and other commercial disbursements attract 10% GST. Itemise them separately so the GST calculation is correct.
Do lawyer invoices need to reference the cost agreement?
Yes — under Australian Legal Profession Uniform Law, invoices should reference the cost agreement and be itemised in a way that allows the client to assess the costs against what was agreed.
Can I apply trust account funds via the invoice?
Yes, with written client authority. Add a note showing the trust application as a deduction and the net amount payable from the general account.
What payment terms apply to legal services?
Net 30 is standard, but cost agreements may specify different terms. For commercial clients, Net 14 is common. Always set terms in the cost agreement before commencing work.
Related invoice templates
Prefer a specific format? Word invoice template · Excel invoice template · PDF invoice template · Google Docs invoice template · All invoice templates
A practical guide to legal-services billing
Use the template as a starting layout, then replace its example information with the actual agreed work. The details below help you decide what to enter and what to check before sending.
Agree what this invoice covers
Match the invoice to the agreed engagement and billing basis. For time-based work, describe the service at a useful level without exposing unnecessary confidential details. Keep professional fees, disbursements and funds held for clients separate.
Give the payer enough context
Include the matter reference, billing period and authorised billing contact. Check the legal billing name and delivery contact against the accepted work. Keep the engagement terms, billable-time record and supporting disbursement records available to resolve questions. An invoice records the charge; it does not replace the underlying approval or supporting documents.
Worked legal-services invoice example
This is an illustrative time-based bill, not a prescribed legal bill format. Any local disclosure, itemisation or client-money requirements need a separately verified professional process.
| Description | Quantity | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services — agreed matter | 3 | 200.00 | 600.00 |
| Authorised disbursement | 1 | 50.00 | 50.00 |
| Example subtotal | 650.00 | ||
Avoid this billing mistake
Putting sensitive case detail into a line item can reveal more than the payer needs. Use a suitable matter reference and the level of detail required by the engagement and applicable process.
Follow up on the right record
Check who is authorised to receive the bill and its supporting detail. InvoiceSonic is not legal practice management, trust accounting or a substitute for jurisdiction-specific billing requirements.
Before you send
- Match the line items and quantities to the accepted scope and approved changes.
- Check the invoice number, issue date, explicit due date and the matter reference, billing period and authorised billing contact.
- Apply only the tax treatment relevant to your business and location; check current local requirements if unsure.
- Keep earlier billing separate from actual payments. Verify the outstanding amount and payment instructions.
The free browser tool prepares the document. Saving customers, sending tracked invoices and managing reminders require an account and are subject to plan limits. Payment status needs accurate payment records; an invoice view alone does not confirm payment.