Glossary
Contingency fee
A fee arrangement where the lawyer gets paid only if the client wins, taking a percentage (typically 33-40%) of the recovery. Common in personal injury cases and some other plaintiff-side work.
Contingency fees let people pursue cases they couldn't otherwise afford. The lawyer takes the financial risk: they front the costs of the case (filing fees, expert witnesses, depositions) and recover them only if the case succeeds.
The trade-off: contingency lawyers are selective. They take cases they think they can win and where the recovery will be substantial. If your case has small potential damages or is complex with uncertain merits, you may have trouble finding a contingency lawyer.
Contingency arrangements are typically not allowed in criminal cases or family law matters in most states.