Contingency Fees

Orange County Legal Ethics

Clients in legal malpractice cases often do not have the financial ability to take on a well-heeled attorney and the insurance companies that insure the law firm.  To level the playing field, Klein & Wilson accepts certain cases on a contingency fee basis such that the client only pays a fee if Klein & Wilson prevails by way of a collected judgment or settlement.  The contingency fee arrangement allows a client who otherwise would have to forgo a valuable claim to see a case to conclusion. 

Because Klein & Wilson takes a substantial risk in accepting a case on a contingency fee basis, it typically requires a one-third (1/3) contingency fee, which goes up to forty percent (40%) once the case has been set for trial.  This increase in the fee structure is the result of two important factors.  First, the demands of trial are exceptionally high, thereby requiring a higher fee.  Second, the longer the case is pending, the more work has to be done and, therefore, a greater fee is appropriate.

Where clients do not wish to pay a contingency fee, Klein & Wilson will handle legal malpractice cases on an hourly fee basis or on a mixed contingency fee basis, where some portion of the fee is paid at an hourly rate and some portion of the fee is contingent upon the outcome.  Klein & Wilson only accepts contingency fee cases where the out of pocket damages exceed $500,000.

Contact Us for Contingency Fee & Legal Ethics Issues in Orange County

To speak with our experienced legal malpractice law firm in Orange County, e-mail Klein & Wilson today or call us at toll free (888) 341-1462 for a consultation.