A lawyer’s fee agreement spells out the cost to the client for access to legal representation. In addition, it makes clear the expected expenses, in the event that the client’s case has proceeded to the point where the lawyer must file a lawsuit.
Other names for lawyer’s fee agreement
• Retainer agreement
• Representation agreement
Possible inclusions in that contract/agreement
There might be a section that laid out details, regarding the circumstances under which the client-attorney relationship could get terminated. It might specify the frequency and means for carrying out communications between the attorney and a given client.Most agreements give the cost to any clients for pursuing litigation.
The agreeing lawyer would layout the planned approach for charging clients a fee
One attorney’s approach might entail charging an hourly rate. In this case, the contract/agreement would also state how often a client’s bill would get sent out, and whether or not a retainer was requested.
Personal Injury Lawyer in Kitchener that get asked to perform routine tasks often charge a flat fee. Normally, a personal injury attorney charges a contingency fee. That means that clients’ obligation to pay enters the picture when their case is over, if they have received either compensation or a court-ordered judgment.
A client’s signature should not go any agreement made with a personal injury lawyer, until that particular document has stated what percent of the client’s money must go to the legal representative. That percent usually increases, if the legal representation must continue during a scheduled trial.
What might be stated in the signed document/agreement?
No one can tell whether or not a ruling from the bench or a verdict by the jury might trigger a request for an appeal hearing. For that reason, some agreements state whether or not the client’s chosen legal representative is willing to take part in any post-trial proceedings.
Obviously, if an attorney’s stated plans did not include offering assistance during post-trial proceedings, then it would be the client’s job to find and retain a replacement. So, warned clients should stand prepared.
Another area of uncertainty relates to the readiness with which any given defendant could fail to come forward with the court-ordered judgment, or could claim the absence of available funds. Resolution of either of the latter situations usually depends on the availability of a lawyer’s assistance.
Some lawyers feel ready to help with judgment collection; others do not. For that reason, some agreements make it clear that a given attorney’s intentions include offering legal guidance up through the trial stage, and perhaps the post-trail proceedings. However, that same member of the legal profession might state that he or she would refuse to help with any efforts that were aimed at judgment collection.