A contingency lawyer in California is an attorney who works on a “no win, no fee” basis. These lawyers provide various legal services, particularly in personal injury, employment, and worker’s compensation cases. They only receive payment if they successfully recover a sum for their client from someone else. These lawyers provide a cost-effective option for individuals who cannot afford upfront legal fees.

GJEL Accident Attorneys is a contingency fee law firm that handles serious injury and wrongful death cases exclusively in California.

What is a Contingency Fee?

Contingency fee contracts (contracts in which a fee is payable to an attorney only if a sum is recovered for the client from someone else) are common in California, particularly for personal injury and related cases. These contracts serve a valuable purpose: they permit injured persons to pursue litigation against someone who has harmed them, irrespective of whether they can afford to hire a lawyer right now. Attorney fees are part of the costs covered under these contingency fee contracts, making it easier for clients to manage legal expenses.

In 1993, to assure consumer protection for clients of lawyers, California adopted a statute (California Business and Professions Code Section 6147) regulating contingent fee contracts. This statute contains important safeguards for someone hiring an attorney on a contingent fee basis. You should learn and know your rights under this law.

California Contingency Fee Lawyer: Know your Rights! 1

Contingency Fee Attorneys Are Lawyers That Get Paid When You Win

Contingency fee lawyers are essentially attorneys who do not get paid until and unless they win your case. In most contingency fee arrangements, the attorney will cover case costs upfront and keep a detailed record. These costs are then reimbursed from the settlement or judgment before the attorney’s fee is calculated. Complex cases can cost a lot of money to take to trial and contingency fees allow people without a lot of money to fight large insurance companies without risk on their part.

What Are The Contingency Fee Agreement Requirements? [Contingency Fee Rules]

First, the law requires that any contingency fee agreement be in writing and that the injured person (or his guardian or representative) receive a duplicate copy of the contract signed by both the attorney and the client.

That rule is important because it eliminates disputes about what someone supposedly “said” that the contract was to include: there must be a written contract to define the contingency fee agreement between attorney and client.

Next, the contract must contain a statement as to how disbursements and costs incurred in connection with the prosecution or settlement of the claim will affect the contingency fee and the client’s recovery. An example would be a personal injury case where there has been a court filing fee of $200 expended and advanced by the attorney, and the case ultimately resolves, during litigation, for $10,000. Is the attorney to be reimbursed the $200 he put out for the court filing fee? If the attorney’s fee set by the contract is 40% of the recovery, is that computed as a percentage of $10,000 or of $9,800?

Costs advanced in personal injury cases for medical reports, outside investigation expense, trial exhibit preparation and expert witness consultation and testimony can be substantial, so how these expenses are to be handled, and how they impact computation of the attorney’s fee, should be explained in, and readily understood from, the language of the written contingent fee contract.

Next, the contract must contain a statement as to what extent, if any, the client could be required to pay any compensation to the attorney for related matters that arise out of their relationship that are not covered by the contingency fee contract itself. For example, in a California personal injury case there are frequently lien claims presented by the client’s health insurance carrier, employer, or healthcare providers. If the attorney is going to charge the client some additional sum for attempting to negotiate and resolve such claims, this must be set forth in the written agreement because these are “related matters”, under the regulatory statute.

Next, with the exception of damage claims against a health care provider which are separately controlled by law*, a contingency fee contract must contain a statement that the attorney’s fee is not set by law, but is negotiable between attorney and client.

What Are Your Rights If The Contract Does Not Meet The Standards?

If a contingency fee contract does not meet all of these standards, it is voidable at the option of the client, meaning that the attorney is then entitled to collect not what the contract says, but instead what the court determines to be a reasonable fee.

Know your rights. Make sure that any contingency fee contract that you are considering entering into meets the requirements of California law. Ask questions, and be sure you understand what you are signing.

Is There a Contingency Fee Percentage Limit in California?

In California, you will usually not see a contingency fee over 40% for most law firms. Contingency fee arrangements increase access to justice for clients who may not have the financial means to pursue legal representation and also outline the potential risks and rewards for lawyers involved in such arrangements.

* In such cases (frequently called “medical malpractice” cases), the portion of the recovery which may be charged for an attorney’s contingency fee cannot exceed statutorily designated percentages. See California Business & Professions Code Section 6146.

Ralph L. Jacobson of GJEL Accident Attorneys represents plaintiffs in personal injury cases.

The contingency model in which the client pays nothing until GJEL recovers compensation tor their injuries-is how attorneys at a private law firm are able to maintain their commitment to public service.

Partner Jim Larsen sums it up, “A client of any income level has the power to take on the most powerful corporation in the world in a contingency fee arrangement.”

Key Insights on California Contingency Fee Attorneys in Personal Injury Cases

Understanding the framework of contingency fee agreements in California is crucial for anyone navigating personal injury claims. These top resources offer essential guidance: