Plant Quinn Thiele LLP - Ottawa Injury - Accident - Disability Law Lawyers
Types of Fee Arrangements
There are various fee arrangements available between clients and lawyers. The two most common are 1. Hourly Rate Fee and 2. Contingency Fee.
Hourly rate fees (1)
In this situation, the client pays the lawyer an agreed upon hourly fee for work performed by the lawyer (at PQT, this means between $200 and $350 per hour) and the lawyer sends the client monthly accounts to be paid. In this situation, the lawyer also usually requests a financial retainer (i.e. a deposit) for work to be completed. The amount of the deposit ranges, usually between $500 and $5000, depending on the complexity of the case and the urgency of the matter.
Most people are unable to afford to retain a lawyer based on an hourly rate and that is why in many cases, lawyers offer contingency fee arrangements. This allows clients access to justice by retaining qualified lawyers to handle their cases. At PQTLaw, we handle most personal injury cases on the basis of a contingency fee arrangement because that is what our clients have demanded.
Contingency fees arrangements (2)
Most people are unable to afford retaining a lawyer on the basis of their hourly rates. At PQT Law, we handle most personal injury cases on the basis of a contingency fee arrangement. What does this mean? It means that some clients who in the past could not afford to pursue certain claims may now be able to do so. Contingency fees can prevent prohibitive upfront costs and allow for greater access to justice, particularly for individuals who cannot afford a lawyer .
Contingency fees are good because?
The lawyer does not get paid until the client gets paid. This encourages lawyers to work very hard for their clients.
The lawyer makes more as the client makes more, so there is an incentive to get as much fair compensation as possible.
What are contingency fees?
Contingency fee arrangements tie a lawyer's fee to the outcome of a case. If the client wins the case, the client pays his or her lawyer a percentage or other agreed-upon portion of the settlement. If a client loses, the client doesn't pay - the lawyer accepts the risk of not being paid when taking a case on a contingent basis. In cases of no contingency fee, the client would pay the lawyer’s bills on an ongoing basis, as the case is prosecuted.
Retainer Agreement
Our PQT Law retainer agreement (which is the name of the agreement you sign to formally hire us to handle your claim), confirms that you pay no fee unless you obtain a settlement and it also contains a simple example of how the fee is to be calculated. We believe strongly in being upfront and direct about the financial aspect of your case. Please ask us any questions that you may have.
Plant Quinn Thiele LLP - Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyers - 613-563-1131
