contingent fee

contingent fee
contingent fee n: contingency fee at fee 2

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law. . 1996.

contingent fee
A method of paying a lawyer for legal representation by which, instead of an hourly or per job fee, the lawyer receives a percentage of the money her client obtains after settling or winning the case. Often contingency fee agreements — which are most commonly used in personal injury cases — award the successful lawyer between 20% and 50% of the amount recovered. Lawyers representing defendants charged with crimes may not charge contingency fees. In most states, contingency fee agreements must be in writing.
Category: Small Claims Court & Lawsuits

Nolo’s Plain-English Law Dictionary. . 2009.


contingent fee
A fee charged for a lawyer's services in an action that is paid only if the client wins his or her lawsuit or receives a payment from an out-of-court settlement. Usually, the fee is a percentage of the amount recovered. Furthermore, whatever the result of the action, the client will pay the court costs and the other out-of-pocket expenses (postage, subpoena fees, and so on) incurred by the lawyer during the course of the action. Although contingency fees are frequently charged for a lawyer's services in a civil action, it is unethical to charge this way for services in a criminal action. Also called contingency fee.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary. . 2000.


contingent fee
Payment to an attorney for legal services that depends, or is contingent, upon there being some recovery or award in the case. The payment is then a percentage of the amount recovered— such as 25 percent if the matter is settled, or 30 percent if it proceeds to trial.

Dictionary from West's Encyclopedia of American Law. 2005.


contingent fee
Payment to an attorney for legal services that depends, or is contingent, upon there being some recovery or award in the case. The payment is then a percentage of the amount recovered— such as 25 percent if the matter is settled, or 30 percent if it proceeds to trial.

Short Dictionary of (mostly American) Legal Terms and Abbreviations.

contingent fee
n.
   a fee to a lawyer which will be due and payable only if there is a successful conclusion of the legal work, usually winning or settling a lawsuit in favor of the client (particularly in negligence cases), or collecting funds due with or without filing a lawsuit. In many states, such agreements must be in writing and signed by attorney and client. The fee is generally a percentage of the recovery (money won), but may be partly a fee for time worked and partly a percentage. Although fees are negotiable, a standard contingent fee in accident cases is one-third of the money won, unless particular difficulties exist with the case, making the attorney believe he/she has the right to ask for more. States vary but some put a cap on the amount of fee for cases handled for minors even if the parent as guardian ad litem agrees to more. Contingent fee agreements in criminal cases which depend on the outcome are unethical.

Law dictionary. . 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • contingent fee — ➔ fee * * * contingent fee UK US noun [C] LAW ► CONTINGENCY FEE(Cf. ↑contingency fee) …   Financial and business terms

  • Contingent fee — A contingent fee (in the United States) or conditional fee (in England and Wales) is any fee for services provided where the fee is only payable if there is a favourable result. In the law is defined as [a] fee charged for a lawyer s services… …   Wikipedia

  • contingent fee — noun : a fee for services (as of a lawyer or agent) to be paid in the event of success in a particular transaction usually as a specified percentage of the sum realized for the client or principal * * * a fee paid to a lawyer conducting a suit,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • contingent fee — a fee paid to a lawyer conducting a suit, esp. a suit for damages, in the event that the suit is successful and generally based on a percentage of the sum recovered. Also called contingency fee. * * * …   Universalium

  • contingent fee — noun see contingency fee …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • contingent fee — See fee …   Black's law dictionary

  • contingent fee — See fee …   Black's law dictionary

  • contingent fee — A fee of an attorney the amount of which or the payment of which depends upon the outcome of the litigation. 7 Am J2d Attys § 214 …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • contingent fee contract — A contract between an attorney at law and a client wherein the former agrees to represent the latter as the latter s attorney at law in the commencement and prosecution of a suit on behalf of the latter for a fee amounting to a certain percent of …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • contingent — con·tin·gent /kən tin jənt/ adj 1: likely but not certain to happen compare executory 2: intended for use in circumstances not completely foreseen a contingent fund 3: dependent on or conditioned by something else …   Law dictionary

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