How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?
How Do You Find a Lawyer Within Your Price Range?
You might be wondering, “how much does a lawyer cost”? Lawyer prices depend on many factors, including the reason why you need a legal advocate, level of experience, and location. As a result, rates vary dramatically and can average from $200-$400 per hour or even as much as $1,000 per hour.
It’s important to realize, that lawyer services are never cheap, even with a simple case. Before hiring a lawyer, discuss all fees associated with your legal issue and ask for an estimated total cost for the case at hand. You could have a case that is possibly eligible for a contingency fee. As you consider how much a lawyer costs, think about what you can afford and what the outcome is worth to you.
Bigger and more established law firms have more expensive lawyers. These firms charge more because they have a lot of experience and a known reputation for winning cases. Choosing a less expensive lawyer is not an advisable option when you have a lot at stake. Sometimes, more expensive and experienced lawyers can cost less overall because they may bring a quicker resolution than a lawyer charging a less expensive rate.
Typical Fee Structures
In most cases, attorneys get paid under one of the following fee arrangements:
Hourly
Hourly billing is one of the most common ways lawyers charge for their services. The client and attorney agree on an hourly rate before beginning the case. Since the time needed to resolve a case can vary, lawyers prefer this method to ensure they are compensated for the actual work performed. Every task, no matter how brief, is documented and added to the total bill.
Before hiring a lawyer, ask about the billing increments they use. Some firms bill a full hour for tasks that take only a few minutes, while others charge in smaller increments, such as 15 minutes. Understanding this upfront helps you avoid surprises on your bill.
Retainer
Some lawyers require an up-front retainer fee, which is like a down payment on the case. As the lawyer works on the case, she or he deducts costs from the initial amount you paid and sends you regular invoices. In most cases, the retainer fee is nonrefundable.
Flat
For simpler, straightforward cases, lawyers can charge a fixed rate that ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars. If the case has the potential for litigation, then it is unlikely to get a flat fee arrangement.
Some cases eligible for flat fee billing include bankruptcy filings, trademarks, patents and wills. Remember to ask your lawyer what the fixed rate cost covers, because it may not include court filing fees.
Contingent
Lawyers usually offer this billing with bigger cases that have larger payoffs. With a contingency fee, the client does not have to pay the lawyer until they resolve the case. But is a contingency fee cheaper than other ways to pay a lawyer? Well, the fee is based on a percentage of the settlement or money awarded to the client. Also, courts sometimes limit contingency fee percentages. They are about 25-40% and are usually negotiable. Cases with this type of structure are usually class action lawsuits, medical malpractice suits, or personal injury claims.
Referral
Lawyers with little experience sometimes refer their clients to those who do. The referring lawyer sometimes gets a cut of the total fee. Remember to ask if your bill includes a referral fee.
Success
This is a combination of a contingent fee structure and an hourly fee structure. In this situation, the hourly fee is usually lower and there is an agreed-upon payout amount or percentage if the case concludes with the client’s desired outcome.
Pro Bono
Pro bono cases are when lawyers work for free and lawyers allot time every year to work on these cases for the greater good. They help those in need of representation, including organizations like legal aid societies or assistance groups.
Percentage
Lawyers sometimes delay payment until after settling a case. This usually happens when they predict a large payout going in their client’s favor. The fee is a percentage of the settlement amount.
Additional Expenses
Check with your lawyer for these potential additional costs:
- Expert witness fees
- Investigator hourly fees
- Paralegal hourly fees
- Travel expenses
- Photocopying fees
- Court fees (including service fee, non-expert witness fee, mediation fee, and appeal fee)
- Criminal fees (including costs for time spent in jail, criminal records, checks, and more)
What Type of Lawyer Do You Need?
There are many areas of law. With this in mind, hire a lawyer experienced in your particular case. The more complicated your case, the more experienced your lawyer ideally should be. As a result, the hourly cost for a lawyer to represent you in a simple case would not be the same for a more complex case.
Payment Methods
Bills
For hourly rates, you typically receive a monthly bill you must pay within a 30- to 60-day window. Let your lawyer know the level of detail you would prefer on your bill and if you would like to receive a breakdown of time spent on your case.
Retainers
After transferring a lump sum to the lawyer and the work starts, each month, you get a bill detailing charges deducted from the retainer. If the retainer is almost finished before the trial is over, you must add additional funds to it. However, if you still have money after the trial is over, you get a refund for whatever remains.
Payment Plans
With a flat fee payment structure, lawyers give clients an option to pay on a biweekly or monthly basis.
What to Do If You Cannot Afford a Lawyer
According to Miranda Rights, all U.S. citizens have the right to an attorney. If they cannot afford one, the law provides them with one. You could also find a lawyer in your area offering pro-bono services. Other resources include:
- Union-provided legal representation
- Support from civil rights or advocacy groups (such as those that help victims of crimes)
- Insurance-provided legal representation
Work With an Experienced Local Lawyer
Lawyers are essential to help guide you through the complex legal system. Each state has unique requirements, so work with an experienced local attorney near you who understands what your case requires. Lawyer costs can be expensive, but they do not always have to be.
Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced lawyer in your area!
About the Author
Aaron is a professional legal writer with a B.S. in English Education from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale. He has written, published, and edited thousands of legal articles for RequestLegalHelp, which has connected over 5 million people to legal help in the United States.
With over five years of experience writing thousands of legal articles for law firms across the U.S. and Canada, Aaron specializes in covering federal, state, and city-level legal issues ranging from auto accidents to wrongful terminations. Contact Aaron at [email protected] for article suggestions, collaborations, or inquiries.
