How long does it take a lawyer to review a contract?
Asked by: Nico Hermann DVM | Last update: August 24, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (67 votes)
Reviewing an employment contract with a lawyer can take several hours or up to a few days depending on the contract's complexity. First, there is an initial review where the attorney reads through the contract identifying key terms and conditions.
What is the turnaround time for a contract review?
The contract review process is typically initiated four to eight weeks before planned execution to account for contract complexity and potential delays. If multi-party negotiations over contract language is anticipated, the review process could easily take twice as long.
How long should a contract review take?
Depending on the contract length, service, complexity of terms, boilerplate versus bespoke language, and the relationship between contracting parties, reviewing a contract can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.
How long does a lawyer take to review a contract?
In a manual contract workflow, it can take lawyers weeks to review a contract, depending on their workload, the nature of the contract and how complex it is.
How long does attorney review take?
Attorney Review.
The three day attorney review period begins when the fully signed Contract is delivered to both parties. Both parties then have three days to have the Contract reviewed by their own attorney.
Contract Lawyer Explains How To (Quickly!) Read Contracts #FinePrintFriday
How do lawyers review contracts?
This process is typically done on a line-by-line basis, and may include redlines or comments by the lawyer to improve the terms for their client. Contract review lawyers also look for loopholes to make sure clients are protected once you sign the contract.
How long should it take to get a response from a lawyer?
An attorney or paralegal may feel that responding to a question within 24 or 48 hours is sufficient, while the client is stressing out about the issue and expecting a response within the hour, or at least by close of business that day.
How much does it cost for a lawyer to review a contract?
The average hourly rate for a contract lawyer to draft and review a contract is $150-$350. Some attorneys also prefer charging a flat fee, ranging between $200-$800, for drafting a prenuptial agreement or independent contractor agreement.
What is the process of contract review?
The contract review process refers to a thorough examination of a contract document prior to its execution. During this process, both parties read between the lines to identify errors, areas of non-compliance, and sections that need renegotiation.
Can you back out of an offer during attorney review?
During The Attorney Review
This typically is a set time after signing for both parties to have an attorney review the agreement. If either side decides during this period that they want to cancel the sale, they typically can do so without penalty.
How long should you wait for a review?
This just in: The best time to ask for customer reviews
On average, 10 days. Why wait? I could ask my customers immediately. You could — but you'd dramatically decrease your chances of actually getting a response.
What is the turnaround time for a contract?
Turnaround time for contracts is the amount of time it normally takes the legal department to complete a contract or a stage of a contract. Average turnaround time can be helpful in explaining department, individual attorney, and outside counsel efficiency.
What does it mean when a contract is under review?
How is 'Under review' defined in a legal contract? 'Under review' means an application or direct payment request has been submitted and the final decision has not been made by the relevant department.
What is a reasonable time for completing a contract?
Reasonable time: A term used in contract law to describe a period of time by which an act should be performed. It is a vague term and depends on the circumstances surrounding the contract formation. Courts will look at the intent of the parties and the nature of the action to determine what is a reasonable time.
What is contract review checklist?
What Is a Contract Review Checklist? A contract review checklist helps legal departments standardize their contract review processes. Whether the reviewer is a junior associate or an experienced senior attorney, a checklist can help the legal team ensure consideration of essential agreement elements.
How do you know when a contract is complete?
Performance and Discharge. Parties must fulfill their obligations under the contract, and once this is done, the contract is considered discharged, meaning that the parties' obligations are complete.
Who performs a contract review?
Legal contract review
Often a junior lawyer, paralegal or legal assistant will work through the contract first with a contract review checklist, summarising the key points. A more senior colleague then reviews the contract further.
What is the review process?
A review process is a structured evaluation system employed by organizations to assess and appraise various aspects of their operations, projects, or personnel. It involves analyzing performance, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and making necessary improvements.
How long can attorney review take?
Most contracts contain an attorney review time. Usually only two or three days, this period permits both parties to withdraw from the agreement if their lawyer discovers an obvious problem.
Why do lawyers review contracts?
A contract review attorney will ensure that the terms are clear, fair, and enforceable under the law. A contract review lawyer helps you navigate the complexities of contract law, protecting your interests and minimizing potential risks.
How much does it cost to review a contract?
The fees for reviewing contracts can range broadly, typically from around $100 to $500 per hour. Several factors influence this cost, including the complexity of the document, the lawyer's expertise and the urgency of the review.
How do I know if my lawyer is bad?
Any behavior that compromises professionalism, such as rudeness, tardiness, or lack of respect for client confidentiality, should raise concerns about the lawyer's competence. Additionally, ethical misconduct or disciplinary actions by regulatory authorities may indicate a lack of integrity and competence.
How often should I hear from my attorney?
Overall, you probably won't be hearing from your lawyer daily, and there are times when it's normal not to speak for a while. Leading up to a hearing or trial, you may talk to them as often as once a week, but other times, communication may be less frequent.
Is it normal for your lawyer to not contact you?
Not hearing from your lawyer can be worrisome, especially if you've made an effort to contact them. According to the American Bar Association, a lawyer is required to keep a client informed in a prompt manner and adhere to reasonable requests.