How are lawyers paid for their services?
Lawyers can be paid for their services in a number of ways. Typically, lawyers are paid either a contingency fee basis or an hourly rate basis. A contingency fee arrangement is one by which the lawyer agrees in writing to take a percentage of the plaintiff’s monetary recovery, if any, after either a settlement or a trial of a lawsuit. Contingency fees are typically 33% of the gross monetary recovery if it occurs before trial, and 40% of the gross monetary recovery if the matter is tried. Contingency fee agreements are extremely risky for lawyers because they do not recover any monetary compensation for the time they invested in the lawsuit if the client does not recover monetary compensation. However, contingency fees are a means by which individuals who cannot afford to pay hourly rates can retain a lawyer to represent them. Typically a contingency fee agreement is reserved for cases in which plaintiff has sustained serious personal injuries. An hourly fee agreement is one by which a
Lawyers are paid depending upon the type of case and the type of attorney you are dealing with. Arrangements can be a flat fee, paying by the hour, and contingency fee contracts.
For example, a criminal defense attorney may charge a flat fee of $2,000 for a DUI case (from the start of the incident up to the beginning of trial), and another $2,000 for a trial if it is necessary. Under no circumstances may a criminal defense attorney charge a contingency fee (i.e. the attorney collects only if the defendant wins / is acquitted). Other types of cases that may have a flat fee arrangement would be bankruptcy and some family law matters.
For most other cases, attorneys charge by the hour. Depending on the location, attorney expertise, attorney experience, and complexity of the matter, a lawyer will charge anywhere from $175 to $750 per hour. Usually, an attorney will want a retainer fee paid (i.e. a client will pay an attorney up front, and the lawyer will deduct his or her charges from that amount). If there is money left over after the matter is resolved, the balance is returned to the client.
Contingency fee arrangements are available for most cases, with the exceptions of criminal and family / domestic relations cases. This is due to the rules of professional conduct present in most states. A contingency fee is when an attorney is paid only if the client wins. Tort (e.g. injury) cases usually fall into this category.
None of this constitutes legal advice (it is general information), and there is no legal relationshp established with the above information.
