How do lawyers charge?
Ethically, a lawyer in this Commonwealth, may not charge an excessive fee. He must consider several factors in determining the appropriate fee including the difficulty of the case and the time and labor required. Most fees are either flat (fixed) based on time spent or are contingent in nature. A flat fee is fixed and paid (usually up-front) for a routine legal matter. An hourly fee is billed bi-weekly or monthly at an agreed-upon hourly rate and is usually accompanied by a retainer. A retainer is the minimum amount you may expect to pay for the services rendered and hourly fees are usually set-off against a retainer. A contingent fee is conditioned or contingent on the collection of a recovery on your behalf. In all fee arrangements, the client is responsible for costs (i.e., filing fees, etc.).