Page 316 - 2024 State Bar Directory

RATE SCHEDULE
A. Identification
Client: ________________________________ Matter: _______________________________
B. Hourly rates for legal personnel Senior partners ______/hour Partners ______/hour
Associates ______/hour Paralegal ______/hour
Law clerks ______/hour
C. Standard charges
We charge for our time in minimum units of ____ hours. [List any other standard charges or minimum time units.]
D. Costs and expenses In-office photocopying Mileage
Computerized legal research Word processing
Other computer time
______/page ______/mile ______/hour ______/hour ______/hour
Clerical staff overtime will be charged at 1.5 times the base hourly rate or at the rates required by applicable law, whichever is greater. The base hourly rates for clerical personnel presently range between $____ and $____ .
E. Subject to change
The rates on this schedule are subject to change on ____ days’ written notice. If you decline to pay any increased rates, we will have the right to withdraw as your lawyers.
COMMENTS:
The instructions for the previously discussed forms apply equally to this form, with the exceptions and additions noted below. 1. Deposit (Par. 3)
Again, as in the case of the other forms, this provision is optional. In a contingency fee case, however, the attorney will not be
paid any fees until the conclusion of the case, and then only if the case is successful. Therefore, the attorney may have more reason to request a deposit for costs.
2. Legal Fees (Par. 4)
This provision, of course, varies considerably from the other forms. We have left the percentages blank. However, it seems to be a common practice in Montana to request a contingency fee of 25%, 33 1/3 %, 40%, and 5%, respectively, for the various stages listed in the form.
Sample Contingency Fee
Firm Name Firm Address Telephone Date
This ATTORNEY-CLIENT FEE CONTRACT (“Contract”) is entered into by and between ____________________ (“Client”) and ____________________ (“Attorney”).
1. CONDITIONS. This Contract will not take effect, and Attorney will have no obligation to provide legal services, until Client returns a signed copy of this Contract and pays the deposit called for under Paragraph 3.
2. SCOPE AND DUTIES. Client hires Attorney to provide legal services in connection with _______________________________ __. Client has a claim against ________________________________ and may have a claim against additional persons or entities (“Defendant”) after further investigation for injuries and damages in connection with this matter. Attorney shall provide legal services reasonably required to represent Client, and shall take reasonable steps to keep Client informed of progress and to respond to Client’s inquiries. Client shall be truthful with Attorney, cooperate with Attorney, keep Attorney informed of developments, abide by this Contract, pay Attorney’s bills on time and keep Attorney advised of Client’s address, telephone number and whereabouts. 3. DEPOSIT. Client shall deposit $____ by ____ . The sum will be deposited in a trust account, to be used to pay for costs incurred in pursuing Client’s claim. Client hereby authorizes Attorney to withdraw sums from the trust account to pay the costs Client incurs. Any unused deposit at the conclusion of Attorney’s services will be refunded, or credited against any legal fees owing in accordance with Paragraph 4 of this Contract.
Client agrees that Attorney's Client Trust Account becomes fixed_____ days after the date a bill is sent to Client. Client authorizes Attorney withdraw the funds from Attorney's Client Trust Account to pay Attorney's fees and costs _______ calendar days after the
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CONTINGENCY FEE FORM
ATTORNEY-CLIENT FEE CONTRACT