Free template · PDF · 2 pages
The rate sheet your engagement letter can carry.
One page covering review, deposition, trial, expedited work, travel and cancellation — in language law firms accept without a negotiation.
A fee schedule is the document that stops arguments before they start. Attach it to your engagement letter, reference it on every invoice, and approving your bills becomes arithmetic instead of judgement.
What is in it
- Page 1 — the schedule. A rates table with eight services already listed, an advance-payment paragraph written as a deposit rather than a retainer, billing and payment terms, the independence clause, and an optional acknowledgement line for the firm to sign.
- Page 2 — the notes. Why “deposit” and not “retainer”, who pays for a deposition, why expedited work needs written authorisation, and a five-point check before you send it.
Who it is for
Expert witnesses and litigation-support consultants who bill law firms by the hour — legal nurse consultants, forensic accountants, engineers, psychologists, digital forensics examiners, investigators, interpreters. It works for consulting and testifying roles; if your rates differ between them, the table has room for both.
Sample rates are illustrative. Expert and legal nurse consultant rates vary widely by specialty, region, and role.
Billing on one right now? Get the expert witness invoice template too.
| Service | Rate | Unit / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Record review, research, chronology, and analysis | $[175] | per hour, billed in tenths |
| Deposition testimony | $[300] | per hour, [2]-hour minimum, billed to the party taking the deposition |
| Trial or hearing testimony | $[2,000] | per day or part day; half-day rate $[1,200] |
| Cancellation with less than [3] business days’ notice | $[600] | flat, credited against the rescheduled appearance |
About TallyHi
We make TallyHi, a Mac app for expert consultants who bill law firms by the hour. It keeps a running log of billable events per case, attaches the emails and files that back each one up, and generates a print-ready invoice that matches this schedule. Your case files stay on your Mac.
The template is free and complete on its own — it is not a trial of anything. If the app sounds useful, have a look; if not, keep the PDF with our compliments.