Freelancers live in the in-between. You’re not an employee, not quite a vendor, and that blurry line is exactly why a clear, well-drafted freelancer agreement matters so much.

Whether you're just starting to work with clients or you're booked six months out, a solid contract protects your time, your creative output, your payment terms, and your peace of mind. That said, we know most freelancers don’t want to spend their Sundays decoding legalese.

So we made a tool that makes that part simple.

In this quick walkthrough, I show you exactly how to use Amicus, our built-in legal assistant, to review and edit a freelancer agreement in just a few clicks. We built Amicus to make the drafting process more human—and more tailored to how freelancers actually work. Watch it here:

👉 [Watch: How to Customize a Freelancer Contract with Amicus]

But let’s back up for a second. Before you hit “send” on any contract, here’s what you need to understand.

A freelancer agreement isn’t just about getting paid (though yes, that’s critical). It also covers ownership of the work, scope creep, deadlines, usage rights, and what happens if the project blows up, or just fades into silence. The best contracts aren’t just there to save you when things go sideways. They also make projects run smoother from the start.

Here are the core things we think every freelancer agreement should include:

• Scope of Work. Clarity around the scope of work. What are you doing? What are you not doing? If the deliverable is a brand identity, does that include social templates? Revisions? A mood board? Spell it out.
• Timeline and milestones. No one likes waiting in the void. Define when things are due, what approvals are needed (and when), and what happens if someone is late to respond.
• Payment terms. Deposit? Net 30? Retainer? Be specific. Not just about how much, but when the money moves. This is one of the most overlooked sources of tension, and it doesn’t have to be.
• Ownership and usage rights. If you’re a writer, designer, photographer, or developer, this is big. Who owns the work? Do you retain any rights to showcase it in your portfolio? Can the client reuse your work across other projects? This part should never be vague.
• Termination and kill fees. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Your agreement should say how either side can walk away—and what compensation is owed if they do.

Using Amicus inside Counsel Club, you can adjust all of this language to reflect your tone and your business. Want to come off friendly and collaborative? We can do that. Need something more protective and formal? Also doable. You’re not stuck with a static PDF or a generic download. This is your contract, just built faster, smarter, and with your creative process in mind.

Ready to see how it works?
👉 [Watch us customize a freelancer agreement in 30 seconds]

We built Counsel Club because freelancers deserve better tools. Not just templates, but legal support that actually speaks your language. If you’re ready to stop hacking together contracts and start owning your process, we’re here for you.

And yes, we make it look easy, but it’s also legally sound.

Need help tweaking your agreement? Want to make sure the IP language fits your work? Use Amicus, or hop on a call with us. This is your work. Let’s protect it, beautifully. If you have any questions, reach out to us at hello@counselclub.co

Let's get drafting!