Which items are required to be included in an engagement letter?

• A. Scope of legal services; fees; expenses; billing practices; and right to arbitrate certain fee disputes
• B. Attorney's biography and bar membership history
• C. Documents requested by the client for the first meeting
• D. List of potential witnesses for the case

Answer: (A)

An engagement letter should lay out the terms that govern the attorney-client relationship and how the representation will be paid. The essential items include the scope of the legal services, the fees and expenses, the billing practices, and any agreement about arbitration for fee disputes. Together, these elements establish what work will be done, what it will cost, how invoices are handled, and how any billing disagreements will be resolved.

The other options don’t fit as engagement-letter terms. A lawyer’s biography and bar membership history aren’t terms of representation. Documents requested for the first meeting are logistical, not part of the ongoing engagement. A list of potential witnesses is strategic case information, not a term of the attorney-client agreement.