Last updated March 12, 2010
Contingency Fees
When it comes to hiring a lawyer there is one fact that everyone agrees upon; lawyers are expensive. If you are considering hiring an attorney, you will need to pay careful attention of how much you can afford and what you are willing to pay for an attorney’s service. This is where contingency fees come into the forefront. When an attorney and a client agree upon contingency fees, they are basically stating that the attorney will work and receive a percentage of the award or settlement after the case is won. If the attorney does not win the case, there will be no fee to pay. Many people who don’t have a lot of money to hire an attorney are attracted to the idea of contingency fees.
One of the biggest advantages for plaintiffs is that if their attorney is paid an hourly fee, the attorney may not defend their client with the level of enthusiasm as they would upon contingency. Though the attorney is still sworn to uphold the law and will represent their client according to legal standards, the drive, passion, and level of enthusiasm will not be as great if they are working for a potentially large award. Many people feel that their attorney will represent them better if they are paid contingency fees as opposed to an hourly fee.
It’s important to realize that there are several laws that apply to contingency fees. These laws may vary by state but include how much or what percentage a lawyer may charge for a contingency fee, as well as what type of case may be paid for with a contingency fee. For example, family law and criminal cases may not be paid with contingency fees. Typically, accident claims and personal injury cases are suitable for contingency fees as these cases are often awarded large sums of money.
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