Most Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania area personal injury lawyers and medical malpractice attorneys
will not charge you for the first consultation. The majority of injury
attorneys request payment on a contingency basis, meaning that they
only get paid if and when you win or settle your lawsuit at a percentage
of the settlement. There are four principal methods for compensating
a lawyer, though others may be agreed on. They are: (1) retainer; (2)
contingent fee; (3) specific job; (4) hourly rate. You may discuss the
matter of fees with your lawyer at any time.
Retainer
Basis
Individuals or a business may employ a lawyer on a retainer basis,
a down payment toward the fee for specified legal services. In return
for the retainer the attorney will work for you on any matter for
which you may need his or her services. Additional costs may be added
to the final bill for services involving extra time and effort on
the part of your lawyer. Always request that your lawyer give you
a receipt for the advance on the fee.
Contingent
Fee
Another fee arrangement used in certain noncriminal types of cases,
especially in accident and negligence cases, is called a contingent
fee. Such a fee is contingent upon the lawyer obtaining monetary recovery
for you. If no award is made, compensation may not be required. If
an award is made, the fee will be a percentage of the recovery. Court
costs and out-of-pocket expenses are normally a responsibility of
the client. Costs and expenses of litigation may be taken from the
amount awarded or settled upon.
Specific
Job
One of the most common methods employed by lawyers for charging fees
is for the specific job (divorce, wills, purchase or sale of property,
title examination, etc.). There are some types of cases in which your
attorney can tell in advance approximately what the charges will be;
in many other instances he or she honestly can't. Thus charges for
a will can range from $50 or less to more than $500, depending upon
the complexity of your estate.
Hourly
Rate
Sometimes the lawyer will base his or her charges on a fixed dollar
amount for each hour spent on your behalf. This is called hourly rate.
The hourly rate can vary from $15 to more than $100 depending upon
the lawyer. Don't hesitate to ask your lawyer his or her rate and
for an estimate of how many hours will be spent on your case.
Some attorneys
may use a combination of fee arrangements.
Fees
charged by a lawyer for the performance of legal services are usually
based on the following considerations:
a. Time and
labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions raised,
and the skill needed to perform the required legal services. Remember:
you can help keep costs down by having all your facts and documentation
together when you see a lawyer.
b. The likelihood
that the acceptance of your case will preclude other employment by
the lawyer.
c. The fee
customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services.
d. Amount
of damages sought and the results achieved.
e. Time limitations
imposed by the client or by circumstances.
f. Nature
and length of the professional relationship.
g. Experience,
reputation, and ability of the lawyer performing the work. h. Lawyers
are entitled to receive reimbursement for expenses incurred in connection
with your case - travel costs, meals away from the office, telephone
calls, postage, and fees prescribed by law to pay the court on your
behalf.
To minimize
misunderstandings about attorney fees, ask an attorney in advance what
the service will cost. Every case is different and, therefore, a lawyer
may not be able to quote you a specific sum, but can give you an estimate.
If the fee
quoted or estimated appears to you to be too high, then check with
other lawyers to see what they would charge.
