Join
|
Login
|
Membership
Belong to the CBA
Attorney Membership
Affiliate Membership
Business Affiliate Membership
Law Student Membership
Membership Perks
Sustaining Membership
100% Club
Groups & Committees
Sections & Divisions
CALL
Health and Well Being
Senior Lawyers Section
Women Lawyers
Young Lawyers Section
CLE
Live CLE Programs
On-Demand CLE
PLI Groupcasts
CLE Requirements
Policies and Guidelines
About Us
Overview
Leadership
History
Past Presidents
Award Recipients
Regulations & Policies
Diversity & Inclusion
Racial Equity
Racial Justice
Public Resources
Grievance
Judicial Candidates Forums and Survey
Speakers Bureau
Job Bank Ads
Lawyer Resources
CBA Report
Ethics Help & Lawyer Assistance
Job Bank
Legal Directory
Attorney Support Services
In the Community
Partner Organizations
Youth Court
News
CBA Blog
CBA Report Featured Articles
Updates
Memorials
Advertising & Sponsorship
Contact Us
Bar Center
CBADR
Notary
About Notary Services
Find a Lawyer
Lawyer Referral Service
LRS Resources
LRS Programs
Attorneys – Join LRS
Foundation
About the Foundation
Foundation Leadership
CBF Past Presidents
Manual
Ways to Give
Investing For Justice
Grants & Scholarships
Grant Application
Scholarships
Grant Recipients
Programs & Awards
Foundation Events
Raise The Foundation
Quid Pro Am
Rock the Foundation
Contact Us
X
Membership
Belong to the CBA
Attorney Membership
Affiliate Membership
Business Affiliate Membership
Law Student Membership
Membership Perks
Sustaining Membership
100% Club
Groups & Committees
Sections & Divisions
CALL
Health and Well Being
Senior Lawyers Section
Women Lawyers
Young Lawyers Section
CLE
Live CLE Programs
On-Demand CLE
PLI Groupcasts
CLE Requirements
Policies and Guidelines
About Us
Overview
Leadership
History
Past Presidents
Award Recipients
Regulations & Policies
Diversity & Inclusion
Racial Equity
Racial Justice
Public Resources
Grievance
Judicial Candidates Forums and Survey
Speakers Bureau
Job Bank Ads
Lawyer Resources
CBA Report
Ethics Help & Lawyer Assistance
Job Bank
Legal Directory
Attorney Support Services
In the Community
Partner Organizations
Youth Court
News
CBA Blog
CBA Report Featured Articles
Updates
Memorials
Advertising & Sponsorship
Contact Us
Bar Center
CBADR
Notary
About Notary Services
Find a Lawyer
Lawyer Referral Service
LRS Resources
LRS Programs
Attorneys – Join LRS
Foundation
About the Foundation
Foundation Leadership
CBF Past Presidents
Manual
Ways to Give
Investing For Justice
Grants & Scholarships
Grant Application
Scholarships
Grant Recipients
Programs & Awards
Foundation Events
Raise The Foundation
Quid Pro Am
Rock the Foundation
Contact Us
Lawyer Referral Service
LRS Resources
LRS Programs
Attorneys – Join LRS
Your browser does not support inline frames
How do attorneys normally charge clients?
by Albert T. Brown Jr., Lawyer Referral Service Panelist
Lawyers who are retained to represent defendants in criminal matters frequently charge a flat fee payable in advance for the criminal representation, or for payment due at particular stages in the litigation. Those who handle criminal or divorce cases are prohibited from charging a fee that is dependent upon the outcome of the case. Some routine matters are frequently billed on a flat fee basis.
The second fee system commonly employed is a contingent fee where a civil lawyer can charge a fee based upon the outcome of a particular project. This could be the size of a verdict or settlement in a personal injury case, the amount of a tax reduction in a reevaluation case, or perhaps the amount of a tax refund in an income tax refund case.
Most other lawyers perform work on a time and materials basis, basing their charges on an hourly rate where the amount of time the lawyer spends on a case is multiplied by that rate to produce a fee due from the client plus expenses.
Lawyers are ethically prevented from charging an unreasonable fee and the factors which determine a reasonable fee are found in the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct 1.5(a)
1. The time and labor required, the novelty and difficulty of the questions involved, and the skill requisite to perform the legal services properly;
2. The likelihood, if apparent to the client, that the acceptance of the particular employment will preclude other employment by the lawyer;
3. The fee customarily charged in the locality for similar legal services;
4. The amount involved, and the results obtained;
5. The time limitations imposed by the client or by the circumstances;
6. The nature and the length of the professional relationship with the client;
7. The experience, reputation and ability of the lawyer or lawyers performing the services;
8. Whether the fee is fixed or contingent.
Find an Attorney in this Area of Law