FEES - THERE ARE (3) STANDARD FEE AGREEMENTS:
CONTINGENT FEE AGREEMENTS,
HOURLY FEE AGREEMENTS, AND
FLAT FEE AGREEMENTS.
Contingent Fee Agreements - A client does not have to pay any fees upfront. Instead, a client agrees in writing to pay a percentage of any money obtained by the attorney on behalf of a client. This is the traditional "We don't get paid unless you get paid" fee agreement. The contingency fee agreement will dictate the circumstances of payment, and how much the attorney is owed. A contingency fee agreement is primarily used in personal injury cases.
Hourly Fee Agreements - In most cases, including general litigation and family law matters, a client pays for legal services by the hour. The hourly rate varies for each team member working on the client's case. There is generally an initial retainer to be paid by a client prior to the commencement of any legal services. The amount of the retainer is established on a case by case basis. The hourly fees generated are billed against the retainer first. After that, a client is billed monthly, or every two months, for legal services rendered. In order to continue representation of a client, he/she must keep their account in good standing at all times.
Flat Fee Agreements - There are certain cases in which the attorney and client agree to a set fee for the legal services to be performed. In a flat fee agreement, a client knows exactly what they need to pay. There are no hourly charges and no monthly bills. Once the flat fee is paid, a client will owe nothing more. Flat fee agreements are commonly used for small claims cases, simple wills, and misdemeanor criminal cases.
Hourly Fee Agreements - In most cases, including general litigation and family law matters, a client pays for legal services by the hour. The hourly rate varies for each team member working on the client's case. There is generally an initial retainer to be paid by a client prior to the commencement of any legal services. The amount of the retainer is established on a case by case basis. The hourly fees generated are billed against the retainer first. After that, a client is billed monthly, or every two months, for legal services rendered. In order to continue representation of a client, he/she must keep their account in good standing at all times.
Flat Fee Agreements - There are certain cases in which the attorney and client agree to a set fee for the legal services to be performed. In a flat fee agreement, a client knows exactly what they need to pay. There are no hourly charges and no monthly bills. Once the flat fee is paid, a client will owe nothing more. Flat fee agreements are commonly used for small claims cases, simple wills, and misdemeanor criminal cases.