Page 36 - Chris Book.docx

Chapter 13: What Will it Cost for Me to Hire an Attorney?

Many people believe that hiring an attorney will be an expensive
venture that will not provide any real benefits. However, nothing could be
further from the truth. This is usually because most individuals do not

understand how attorneys charge their clients.
Usually, attorneys charge different fees depending on the type of
case. An attorney will usually charge a flat fee, a one-time payment, for

projects like a real estate closing. Flat fees are best for projects that are
straightforward, have relatively few changes or exceptions, and will take

a standard amount of time. When an attorney is hired to defend a civil
lawsuit, like a personal injury suit, an attorney will charge an hourly rate
calculated in six-minute intervals. By charging an hourly rate, an attorney

is only charging his or her client what is necessary to provide the best
defense possible. Hourly rates are used for these types of cases because

each case is incredibly different. While one client’s case may only need
several hours of work to reach an outcome that the client is happy with,
another case may take several weeks to reach an acceptable settlement.

Generally, personal injury attorneys offer a free initial
consultation and then charge a “contingency fee.” Usually, the attorney
will conduct a preliminary review of your case, provide his or her opinion,

and will describe what he or she thinks the best course of action will be.
A contingency fee is only charged to the client for an attorney’s services
only when there is a successful verdict in a lawsuit, or the case is settled

favorably outside of court. This means that the lawyer upon conclusion of
the case will receive a percentage of the recovery. An attorney will not

charge a contingency fee unless he or she is able to obtain a verdict or
settlement in favor of his or her client. Contingency fees can vary from
attorney to attorney, so it is important to ask an attorney about his or her

fees before you hire him or her.
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