Posts Tagged ‘lawyer fees’

What Are Attorney Contingency Fees?

Monday, March 8th, 2010

There is a rumor floating around that all law firms are pricey and unaffordable. Many people fear they cannot afford the counsel of a good attorney because the costs and fees involved will be too costly. The truth is that there is a payment arrangement called a contingency fee that makes hiring a good law firm possible.

No More Lies: The Facts About Contingency Fees

A contingency attorney arrangement in the United States is a fee for legal services given where the fee is only paid if there is a favorable outcome. Contingency law office fees are customarily setup as a percentage of the client’s net recovery. Often times jurisdictions in the United States do not allow contingency law office fees in family law and criminal cases. Many times, contingency lawyer fees are the usual in personal injury situations.

And Now A Few Of The Benefits Of A Contingency Law Office Fee

A contingency law office fee arrangement provides access to the justice system for individuals who cannot afford to fund an hourly law office fees and prices of civil litigation. Contingency attorney fees also enable an incentive to the law office to work hard on the client’s legal issue. In other forms of litigation where the law office bills by the hour, their is not as much incentive for the attorney to produce a good result. Additionally, because attorneys assume some monetary risk of litigation, the amount of frivolous cases may lessen.

Worries About Contingency Law Office Arrangements

A contingency arrangement does not always result in a beneficial result. Lawyers will sometimes decide to work legal issues that have a worthwhile chance of succeedingbecause they only receive payment upon successful resolution. There are problems that are passed by because the success of the claim is not apparent. Because investigation is required to see if a successful outcome can be found, there are cases that are not taken simply because of the costs involved with the investigation.

The Price of Trying A Case and Contingency Fees

It is also important to distinguish among contingency lawyer arrangements and the expenses of litigation. While contingency arrangements insulate the individual from being responsible for paying high fees to the attorney in the event of a poor outcome, many jurisdictions require that the individual remain responsible for the costs of litigation. It is essential that fee arrangement is discussed at the very beginning of an attorney-client relationship. Don’t be afraid to ask your law firm both how their fees and the expenses of litigation will be paid.

When you have been injured as the result of an accident or negligence, it is a good idea to speak with New Jersey injury lawyers about your situation. A New Jersey personal injury attorney can help seek justice for your issue.

categories: injury lawyer,personal injury lawyer,lawyer fees,contingency fees,legal fees,lawyer,attorney,legal,law,fees


How Contingency Fees Work

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

There is a misconception floating around that all attorneys are expensive and unaffordable. Many people fear they cannot retain the services of a good lawyer because the costs and fees involved will be too high. The truth is that there is a fee arrangement called a contingency fee that makes hiring a good lawyer possible.

What a Contingency Fee Actually Is

A contingency fee is when legal services are provided and a fee is paid upon a favorable outcome of the case. The most common way this is done is by paying a percentage of the client\’s recovery to the attorney. This type of fee is fairly standard with personal injury cases. However, in most jurisdictions contingency fees are not allowed for family and criminal cases.

Benefits of Contingency Attorney Fees

A huge benefit of a contingency fee arrangement is that it allows people who could not otherwise afford legal services access to the justice system. Since hourly attorney fees and litigation costs can be quite expensive, a contingency fee allows people to hire talented lawyers to work on their legal issues. Incentives are aligned correctly because the attorney only receives payment upon a successful outcome for their client.

Some Questions And Concerns With Contingency Fees

Utilizing legal representation with a contingency fee does not guarantee a successful resolution to your issue. Since lawyers only receive compensation upon a successful resolution, they take cases that they feel have the best merit and are most likely to succeed. It is sometimes difficult to determine the viability of a case before doing initial research, and even that can be risky and expensive. As a result, there are cases that are sometimes turned down before the investigation is even underway.

Contingency Fees & The Actual Cost of Litigating

It is also important to distinguish between contingency attorney fees and the costs of litigation. While contingency fees protect the client from incurring paying high fees to the attorney in the event of an unsuccessful outcome, many jurisdictions require that the client remain responsible for the costs of litigation. It is essential that fee arrangement is discussed at the very beginning of an attorney-client relationship. Don\’t be afraid to ask your attorney both how their fees and the costs of litigation will be paid.

Getting injured can be a very traumatic experience. If you suffer injury it is important that you be made aware of your rights. NJ personal injury law firms can protect your rights and assist you with the the loss you have suffered. Speak with a New Jersey injury attorney today.

categories: nj personal injury attorneys,new jersey injury lawyer,personal injury,personal injury law firm,contingency fees,lawyer fees,legal fees,lawyer,attorney,law firm,legal