Frequently Asked Questions About Criminal Law, Civil litigation and Personal Injury

1. It is strongly recommended that if you are facing a criminal charge that you immediately contact a criminal lawyer for a proper legal consultation.

2. How does a lawyer get paid for their services? Typically, there are three different compensation models.

• Flat Fee: Prior to the start of the representation, the lawyer will quote you a set price for the job. This arrangement usually works best with routine matters which have a definite beginning, middle and end. You can expect to encounter this payment method when you are buying or selling a house, or having documents drafted such as a will, trust or lease.

• Contingent Fee: The lawyer gets paid a set percentage of the client’s recovery in the matter. This payment arrangement is most commonly used when you are bringing a lawsuit against someone else for personal injury claims. You only pay the lawyer when you receive compensation for your injuries.

• Hourly Fee: You pay the lawyer for their time spent working on the matter at a set hourly rate. This arrangement is usually for longer term representations, or where it is uncertain how much work will be needed. This would most likely be the compensation method when probating a sizable estate or handling a landlord/tenant dispute.