Understand Contracts and Legal Documents Without a Law Degree

## What You Are Agreeing To

**Deliverables (Section 2):** You will deliver a redesigned checkout flow including wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and a prototype. The scope is defined loosely — "and other related deliverables as reasonably requested" gives them room to add work without renegotiating price. You may want to push back on that phrase.

**Payment (Section 4):** $8,500 total, split 50/30/20 across three milestones. Payment is due within 30 days of invoice. There is no late payment penalty specified, which means if they pay on day 60, you have no contractual leverage besides withholding further work.

**IP Ownership (Section 6):** All work product becomes their property upon final payment. This is standard for client work, but note: it includes "preliminary sketches and working files," not just final deliverables. If you want to use any of this in a portfolio, get that in writing separately.

## Watch Out For

**Non-solicitation (Section 9):** You cannot approach their clients or employees for 12 months after the contract ends. This is aggressive for a freelance engagement. Consider negotiating this down to 6 months or limiting it to clients you directly worked with.

**Termination (Section 10):** Either party can terminate with 14 days written notice, but if YOU terminate, you forfeit payment for any incomplete milestone. If THEY terminate, they only owe you for completed milestones. This is one-sided.

**No limitation of liability:** The contract does not cap your liability. In theory, they could claim damages beyond your fee. A standard clause would cap liability at the total contract value.