Draft an engagement letter with a clear scope of representation

Draft an engagement letter for a new client of my law firm. Client: [NAME and whether individual or entity - and who at the entity we represent] Matter: [DESCRIPTION] Work included: [SPECIFIC TASKS] Work excluded: [e.g. "appeals", "tax advice", "collection of any judgment"] Fee arrangement: [hourly rates by timekeeper / flat fee / contingency percentage and how costs are handled / hybrid] Retainer or advance deposit: [AMOUNT, whether it goes to trust, evergreen or not] Billing and payment terms: [INVOICE FREQUENCY, DUE DATE, LATE TERMS] State whose rules apply: [STATE] Include sections for: who the client is (and is not, e.g. officers or family members); scope and exclusions; staffing; fees, costs, and how the retainer is held and applied; billing increments; client responsibilities (honesty, cooperation, timely payment); communication; no guarantee of outcome; conflicts disclosures or waivers if any [ADD IF NEEDED]; termination and withdrawal; file retention and destruction period; and signature blocks. Rules: - Plain English, short paragraphs, defined terms only when needed. - For a contingency fee, include the items many states require in writing: the percentage at each stage, whether costs come off before or after the fee, and which expenses the client pays regardless of outcome. - Mark any state-specific requirement I should verify as [CONFIRM - STATE RULE], e.g. fee dispute arbitration notices or required statements. Return: the letter, then a checklist of state rules to verify before sending. This is a draft for attorney review, not a substitute for it.