The Most Common Cases that Do Not Operate on Contingency Fees Criminal defense cases. Divorce attorneys. Family law attorneys. Domestic relations cases. Business-related cases. Contracts and closings.
No, not all lawyers work on contingency. This model is typically limited to specific types of cases, such as personal injury and some employment disputes. Criminal defense, family law, and other legal specialties usually require retainer fees or hourly billing.
A contingency plan is sometimes referred to as "Plan B" or a backup plan because it can also be used as an alternative action if expected results fail to materialize.
Some common synonyms of contingency are crisis, emergency, exigency, juncture, pinch, straits, and strait. While all these words mean "a critical or crucial time or state of affairs," contingency implies an emergency or exigency that is regarded as possible but uncertain of occurrence.
The average contingency rate falls between 20-40%, with most lawyers charging around 33% to 35% of the total amount recovered in a case. The exact percentage can vary depending on the complexity of the case, the lawyer's experience, and the stage at which the case is resolved.
The State Board rules do not allow commissions or contingent fees if the CPA performs, for the client, "...a compilation of a financial statement accompanied by a report..." The AICPA rules prohibit commissions or contingent fees if the CPA performs, for the client, "... a compilation of a financial statement when the ...