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There are three basic types of fee arrangements available, depending on the nature of the representation.
Hourly Fees
Most clients will have the option of paying an hourly fee for representation. These fees will be billed monthly, and a fee deposit (or retainer) is usually required. Examples of these kinds of cases are personal injury defense, contract disputes, some family and criminal cases.
Contingent Fees
In some cases, such as personal injury (plaintiff's side) representation, clients will have the option of paying a contingent fee instead of an hourly fee. With a contingent fee, the client pays no legal fee if a recovery is not obtained. When a recovery is obtained, the fee paid is a percentage of the recovery. However, depending on the case you may have to cover costs (i.e. filing fees, investigator costs).
Flat Fees
Most criminal, traffic and bankruptcy representation is handled on a flat-fee basis. The amount of the fee is agreed to at the start of the case, and a fee deposit is usually required.
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