Fee Estimate Generator
When a prospective or existing client asks 'How much will this cost?' — generate a structured estimate before the engagement call.
"How much will this cost?" is often the first question a prospective client asks and one of the hardest to answer well. A vague number erodes trust or, worse, locks you into work you underpriced; an overly cautious one loses the engagement. A credible estimate breaks the matter into phases, attaches realistic hour ranges to each, and spells out the assumptions and variables that could move the total — and assembling that on the fly before an intake call is rarely convenient.
Claude is a fast, cost-effective way to produce that structure. Give it the matter type, scope, complexity, and your rates, and it returns a phased task breakdown with low-high hour ranges, per-task and total cost ranges, stated assumptions and exclusions, and a suggested billing schedule — formatted as a table you can put in front of a client. It gives you a defensible starting framework so your judgment goes to calibrating the numbers, not building the skeleton.
The figures are illustrative until you make them yours. Claude does not know your jurisdiction's filing fees, your team's pace, or the quirks of this particular matter, so every hour range and dollar figure needs your review before it reaches a client. Use the output to draft, then adjust to your actual rates and experience. It is a planning aid for the attorney — not legal advice, a binding quote, or a guarantee of cost.
The Prompt
Generate a fee estimate for the following matter. Matter type: [e.g., breach of contract litigation, commercial lease negotiation, trademark registration] Scope: [DESCRIBE THE WORK TO BE PERFORMED] Complexity: [SIMPLE / MODERATE / COMPLEX] Jurisdiction: [STATE/FEDERAL] Fee structure: [HOURLY / FLAT FEE / HYBRID] Hourly rates: [IF APPLICABLE — list rates by timekeeper] Known complications: [ANY FACTORS THAT INCREASE SCOPE] Generate: 1. **Task breakdown** — list each phase of work (e.g., initial review, drafting, negotiation, filing) 2. **Estimated hours** per task (provide a range: low-high) 3. **Estimated cost** per task at the stated rates 4. **Total estimate** (range: low-high) 5. **Assumptions** — what this estimate includes and excludes 6. **Variables** — factors that could increase or decrease the estimate 7. **Payment schedule** — suggested milestones for billing Format as a table the client can understand.
Example Output
A fee estimate table with task phases, hour ranges, cost ranges, and a clear total. Assumptions and variables listed separately.
Illustrative example — names, figures, and facts are fictional.
FEE ESTIMATE — Commercial Lease Negotiation (Tenant Side) Client: Northpoint Studios LLC | Complexity: Moderate | Structure: Hourly Rates: Partner $425/hr | Associate $260/hr Phase | Hours (Low-High) | Cost (Low-High) -------------------------------|------------------|------------------- 1. Intake & deal-term review | 2 - 4 | $ 680 - $ 1,360 2. Lease analysis & redline | 6 - 10 | $1,560 - $ 2,600 3. Issues memo to client | 2 - 3 | $ 520 - $ 780 4. Negotiation w/ landlord | 5 - 9 | $1,300 - $ 2,340 5. Final revisions & execution | 2 - 4 | $ 520 - $ 1,040 -------------------------------|------------------|------------------- Subtotal | 17 - 30 | $4,580 - $ 8,120 Contingency (unforeseen, ~12%) | | $ 550 - $ 975 TOTAL ESTIMATE | | $5,130 - $ 9,095 ASSUMPTIONS - One landlord-form lease and up to two rounds of redline. - Standard single-location office space; no build-out or SNDA negotiation. EXCLUDED - Entity formation, financing documents, and any litigation if negotiations fail. VARIABLES THAT MOVE THE ESTIMATE - Additional negotiation rounds beyond two. - Landlord insistence on a personal guaranty or complex CAM structure. SUGGESTED BILLING - $2,500 retainer at engagement; balance billed monthly against time.
Tips
- •Always present a range, not a single number — it protects you if scope changes.
- •Include a line item for 'unforeseen issues' at 10-15% of the total — clients appreciate the honesty.
- •Use this output as the basis for the fee section of your engagement letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use this prompt?
Use it whenever a prospective or current client asks what a matter will cost, ideally before the engagement call so you walk in with a structured estimate rather than an off-the-cuff number. It also doubles as the foundation for the fee section of your engagement letter, giving you a phased scope and billing schedule you can carry directly into the written agreement.
Can I send the estimate to a client as-is?
No. The hour ranges and dollar figures are illustrative defaults, not your actual pricing. Replace them with your rates, adjust each range to your team's pace and this matter's facts, confirm filing fees and costs for your jurisdiction, and verify the scope before anything reaches a client. An estimate that becomes part of a fee agreement is your responsibility to get right.
How do I get a more reliable estimate?
Be specific about scope, complexity, and known complications, and provide your actual rates by timekeeper. The more detail you give about what the work includes and excludes, the tighter and more defensible the ranges. Present a low-high range rather than a single number, and ask Claude to add a contingency line for unforeseen issues so the estimate holds up if scope shifts.
Are there ethics concerns with AI-generated fee estimates?
Fees must be reasonable under Model Rule 1.5, and the duty of competence requires you to stand behind any estimate you give a client. ABA Formal Opinion 512 permits AI assistance with proper oversight, so use the draft as a framework but ensure the final numbers reflect your independent judgment. Never present figures you have not reviewed and adjusted to the actual matter.
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