How Do Attorneys Charge?
Generally, there are three different ways that attorneys charge fees: first, on a contingency basis; second, on an hourly basis; and, third, on a fixed fee basis. When you hire an attorney, that attorney is providing you his or her expertise and advice, and you should expect to be charged for the time that an attorney expends on your behalf because this is how he or she gives you the benefit of their counsel and experience. Contingency fees are generally limited to personal injury types of cases or other matters of entitlement such as social security, worker’s compensation, and civil rights matters. In these types of cases, there is some expectation that you will receive some financial award either by settlement or by judgment from a court or jury. However, in most cases, your financial award does not include your attorney’s fees. You are responsible for paying your attorney’s fees out of any financial recovery that you obtain. In contingency fee cases, the attorney assesses whether or
