What is the structure of a lawyer's payment that depends on winning a case?

A contingent fee is a payment structure commonly used in legal practice, particularly in personal injury and some civil cases. In this arrangement, a lawyer agrees to be paid a percentage of the monetary recovery from the case – typically if the lawyer wins. This fee structure is advantageous for clients who may not have the means to pay upfront legal fees, allowing them to pursue justice without financial strain. If the case is lost, the lawyer does not receive payment, which creates a direct incentive for the attorney to work diligently to win the case.

Other payment structures, such as hourly fees, involve clients paying the lawyer based on the amount of time spent on the case, which does not depend on the outcome. A retainer fee requires clients to pay in advance for a lawyer's services, which may or may not be linked to case results. A flat fee is a set amount charged for a particular legal service, regardless of the outcome. These structures lack the risk-sharing aspect present in contingent fees, where the lawyer's compensation is directly tied to the success of the case.