Consultant contract

About this consultancy contract

This document is suitable for any individual who calls himself a consultant. Of course your industry sector affects the work you do. But this is a legal document, so does not specify the work you do. This contract is for an individual consultant to present to any client as his contract. See below for alternative consultancy contracts. It may be edited either by you before you submit it, or in negotiation with your client. It is drawn to protect you, the consultant, but should also be acceptable to your clients.

This is an “umbrella” contract, set up for the possibility of future assignments under the same terms. That way, if you want more work from the same consultant, all you have to do is define it and refer to this agreement. Even if you expect never to enter into a new work assignment, you do not have to delete anything on that account.

If your business is IT related, you may prefer the version with additional relevant paragraphs relating to IP protection at IT consultant contract: single consultant. Other choices are listed below.

The consultancy contract provides for the specification of work to be placed in a schedule to this agreement on the first time it is used. All later assignments of work will automatically be subject to this contract.

There are options in several areas, notably contract summary, payment systems and working arrangements.

Key features

• Ease of use (as always with Net Lawman documents)
• Thorough coverage of legal areas
• Practical, alternative business provisions
• No requirement for you be your own lawyer

The law in this consultant’s agreement

There is little statute law in this consultancy agreement. It depends on basic contract law and tort.

Alternatives to this consultant’s agreement

Net Lawman publishes three types of consultancy contract:

• for a corporate consultancy to offer to its client
• for a single consultant working alone or with colleagues or sub-contractors (this contract)
• for the client of a consultant to offer to a consultant, to protect his own interest

Each of these three is available in three versions:

• for IT consultants;
• for HR consultants;
• and for any other.

The IT and HR versions contain more provisions relating to aspects of IT and HR, but the legal framework is the same in all.

You can see the full selection at Consultancy agreements.

Contents of this agreement

• Definitions and interpretation
• Preliminary legal matters
• Consultant's status
• Contract summary and payment
• Work management procedure
• Consultant's requirements and obligations
• Option for use of sub-contractors
• Confidentiality
• Intellectual property
• Option for no competition (if your client insists)
• Limitation of your liability
• Duration and termination
• Other legal provisions
• Publicity / Announcements
• Miscellaneous matters

Over 2,000 words of helpful and informative drafting notes.