Retainer

Retainer, in law, agreement between an attorney and client for legal representation. A retainer can be a formal or special type, in which the lawyer agrees to represent a client on a particular case, or it can be a special retainer, in which the lawyer agrees to act on behalf of the client when necessary. A retaining fee paid by a client to an attorney is also called a retainer. Once a retainer, either general or special, is agreed to, the attorney has a legal obligation to represent the client to the best of his or her abilities. The attorney cannot act on behalf of the opposing party or parties in a legal action.