With a contingency fee agreement, a lawyer agrees to represent you and to be paid a percentage of the settlement or judgment. The lawyer’s fee is contingent upon a successful outcome. If your case is not successful, the lawyer will not charge for their legal fees. Usually the agreement says you have to pay the lawyer’s costs and disbursements from time to time, such as court filing fees, photocopying fees, etc. The percentage amount is different for each lawyer. Usually the contingency agreement says the percentage increases with each step in the legal process. The more time a lawyer puts in, the bigger the percentage the lawyer will collect. For example, the agreement might say the lawyer gets 20% if you agree to a settlement amount before a trial but 40% if the lawyer has to go to trial. These arrangements are common for personal injury cases where an injured person might get damages (money) for their injuries. Last updated: February 2021