08/27/2026
One of the questions we hear most often from law firms we support is how long they should retain client files.
While the American Bar Association offers a general five‑year baseline after representation ends, the right timeline can vary based on your practice area, your state's rules, and the types of matters you handle.
We put together a simple breakdown to help your team understand what the guidelines say and what your firm should consider when creating or updating its file retention policy.
If you want to review your current approach or talk through how retention rules apply to your practice, our team at Hecht Schondorf is always here to help.