retainer

Every law office sets its own billing rates and retainer -- usually in a sum relating to the kind of case it is and how long and expensive it is anticipated to be.  Our retainer agreement, for example, is posted on our Consultation Policies, Procedures, and Costs page, which you can reach here.  You shouild read the accompanying information to learn the difference between "fees," "costs," and "retainers," the last of which is a word used differently by different firms, but usually menas a fully-refundable deposit against which fees and costs are drawn as they are incurred.