Cf. Refer to this artticle for normal U.S. Attorneys' Fees
The most expensive lawyers are now charging upwards of $1,500 per hour for the elite, but the average attorney hourly rate is nowhere near that high. The typical person can expect to pay between $200 and $520.
In 2014, The National Law Journal posted the results of an hourly billing survey from law firms. It showed the average attorney hourly rate for partners was $604, and associates charged $307.
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The Laffey Matrix
One helpful way to determine what to expect for an attorney hourly rate is to check Laffey Matrix. This legal guide is the official fee schedule of the Washington-Baltimore area and shows reasonable rates, depending on how long they have been out of school.
There are many other areas that use this matrix to determine lawyer fees as well. But even if your area is not using the Laffey Matrix officially, it can be a useful guide to show you a starting place.
Of course, if you are in a much smaller town with a simple case, you should expect lower legal fees. And if you are in a big city with a complex case, you should expect higher average attorney fees.
For 2017, the Laffey Matrix guide shows as follows:
Average Attorneys Fees & Lawyer Costs
Years Out of School
*********************
Attorney's Hourly Rate
*********************
1 – 3 years old
$343
4 – 7
$421
8 – 10
$608
11 – 19
$685
20 +
$826
Table: Average hourly attorney fees – years out of school
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Legal Fees Type 3: Retainer
Retainers are pre-funding any lawyers fees you may have in the future. You offer payments in advance for your legal representation. Whenever these attorneys work for you, they deduct their legal fees from the amount you have already given them.
Typically, when you have a lawyer on retainer, this gives you preference over some of the lawyer’s other work or clients. Retainers are generally only used by those who need repeated legal help. Retainers are most often used by:
Businesses who need frequent legal counsel and representation
Individuals (often quite wealthy) who also need frequent legal counsel and representation
Anyone who needs immediate legal services without much of a wait time
Since retainers are only advanced payment, there are no real average lawyer fees for retainers. It is up to the discretion of the person or company for whatever types of legal services they require.
A note on retainers: Having your lawyer on retainer should not be confused with paying a retainer fee (discussed below). Retainer fees are legal fees your lawyer may charge to start representing you.
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Legal Fees Type 4: Contingency Fee
The fourth type of lawyer fees you will commonly see is the contingency fee. Instead of paying your lawyer a certain amount whether you win or lose, contingency fees are a percentage you agree to give your lawyer from your settlement, only if you win your case.
Contingency legal fees are common for:
Car accidents
Personal injury
Employment law issues
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) violations
The average attorney fees, when using the contingency method, are around 1/3 of the settlement, or 33%. Of course, if the case is quite large, these legal fees could drop; if the case is quite small, they could possibly rise.
Many people think a contingency plan is the safest bet since they do not pay if they lose. But the average lawyer fees with a contingency plan are often higher than they would be if the lawyer had charged hourly or flat rates. Remember, these lawyers are not paid with lost cases, so you can begin to realize why the lawyer prices fees more highly for won cases.
Average Attorney Fees Chart
To wrap up our findings about the average lawyer fees available, here is a simple guide. Remember, these are averages. Your case could be lower or higher depending on the details. This is only a starting point for those wondering, “How much does a lawyer cost?”
Average Attorney Fees Chart
Type Of Legal Fees
Average Cost Of A Lawyer
Flat Fees
$600
Hourly Rates
$520 per hour
Retainers
Varies
Contingency Fees
33% of settlement
There are several common types of fee arrangements used by me:
Consultation Fee: The lawyer may charge a fixed or hourly fee for your first meeting where you both determine whether the lawyer can assist you. Be sure to check whether you will be charged for this initial meeting.
Contingency Fees: The lawyer's fee is based on a percentage of the amount awarded in the case. If you lose the case, the lawyer does not get a fee, but you will still have to pay expenses. Contingency fee percentages vary . A one-third fee is common. Some lawyers offer a sliding scale based on how far along the case has progressed before it is settled. Courts may set a limit on the amount of a contingency fee a lawyer can receive. This type of fee arrangement may be charged in personal injury cases, property damage cases, or other cases where a large amount of money is involved. Lawyers may also be prohibited from making contingency fee arrangements in certain kinds of cases such as criminal and child custody matters. Contingency fee arrangements are typically not available for divorce matters, if you are being sued, or if you are seeking general legal advice such as the purchase or sale of a business.
Flat Fees: A lawyer charges a specific, total fee. A flat fee is usually offered only if your case is relatively simple or routine such as a will or an uncontested divorce.
Hourly Rate: The lawyer will charge you for each hour (or portion of an hour) that the lawyer works on your case. Thus, for example, if the lawyer's fee is $100 per hour and the lawyer works 5 hours, the fee will be $500. This is the most typical fee arrangement. Some lawyers charge different fees for different types of work (legal research versus a court appearance). In addition, lawyers working in large firms typically have different fee scales with more senior members charging higher fees than young associates or paralegals.
Referral Fee: A lawyer who refers you to another lawyer may ask for a portion of the total fee you pay for the case. Referral fees may be prohibited under applicable state codes of professional responsibility unless certain criteria are met. Just like other fees, the total fee must be reasonable and you must agree to the arrangement. Your state or local bar association may have additional information about the appropriateness of a referral fee.
Retainer Fees : The lawyer is paid a set fee, perhaps based on the lawyer's hourly rate. You can think of a retainer as a "down payment" against which future costs are billed. The retainer is usually placed in a special account and the cost of services is deducted from that account as they accrue. Many retainer fees are non-refundable unless the fee is deemed unreasonable by a court. A retainer fee can also mean that the lawyer is "on call" to handle your legal problems over a period of time.Since this type of fee arrangement can mean several different things, be sure to have the lawyer explain the retainer fee arrangement in detail.
Statutory Fee: The fees in some cases may be set by statute or a court may set and approve a fee that you pay. These types of fees may appear in probate, bankruptcy, or other proceedings.
With all types of fee arrangements you should ask what costs and other expenses are covered in the fee. Does the fee include the lawyer's overhead and costs or are those charged separately? How will the costs for staff, such as secretaries, messengers, or paralegals be charged. In contingency fee arrangements, make sure to find out whether the lawyer calculates the fee before or after expenses.
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