The typical fee varies based on lawyer’s experience, the nature of the legal matter, and other factors. However, you can expect to free structure to be one of the following three types: flat fee, hourly fee, or contingency fee.
Flat fees are usually charged for simple and well-defined legal matters, such as an uncontested divorce, or preparation of a will. A contingent free structure is one where the client pays no money up-front, but rather the lawyer is paid a percentage of the final judgment or settlement. A contingent fee structure is most often used in cases such as civil suits resulting from a car accidents or other personal injury matters. Keep in mind that a lawyer may not charge a contingency fee in criminal cases and in most family law cases, such as divorces and custody cases.
An hourly fee structure is the most common one and is used for all types of cases. In this payment arrangement, the lawyer charges the client based on the time the lawyer spends on the case (including reviewing relevant documents, conducting legal research, attending court hearings, etc.). The lawyer will frequently request a retainer fee (an upfront payment from the client) and then take what he has earned out of that sum, returning any unused portion of the retainer to the client at the conclusion of the case.