Lawyer With Contingency Fee Fee Guide

When It Applies

Not For

• Criminal proceedings or family-law matters where contingency fees are not an ordinary route.
• Assuming every lawyer or every claim can be handled on contingency.
• Signing a contingency-fee agreement without legal advice on the specific document.

Documents

• Claim summary
• Evidence bundle
• Medical or expert reports
• Loss documents
• Correspondence
• Court papers
• Previous offers
• Draft contingency-fee agreement
• Disbursement estimate
• Settlement statement

Timeline

• Before asking: collect proof of claim, loss, and deadlines.
• Before signing: confirm Act compliance, signatures, disbursements, and success definition.
• During the case: track costs and decision points.
• Before settlement: confirm fee and disbursement calculation.

Tips

• A contingency fee should be documented before work proceeds on that basis.
• Ask what costs are still payable if the case is unsuccessful or terminated.
• Do not confuse no-win-no-fee wording with no-cost wording.
• Keep settlement and fee calculations in writing.

Warning Signs

• The agreement is verbal only.
• The fee basis is described as guaranteed or risk-free.
• Disbursements, expert costs, VAT, or counsel fees are not explained.
• You are asked to sign after substantial work has already been done.
• The matter is criminal, family, or another unsuitable matter type.