Calculate attorney fees for contingency, hourly, and flat-fee arrangements, including your net settlement after the fee and case costs.
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Attorney Fee Formula
The attorney fee depends on the fee structure agreed with the lawyer. Use the formula that matches your arrangement.
Contingency fee:
Attorney Fee = Settlement Amount * (Contingency Percentage / 100)
Net to Client = Settlement Amount - Attorney Fee - Case Costs
Hourly billing:
Total Fee = (Billable Hours * Hourly Rate) + Additional Costs
Flat fee:
Total Cost = Flat Fee + Additional Costs
Where Settlement Amount is the gross award before fees, Contingency Percentage is the share the attorney keeps, Case Costs are filing and expert expenses, Billable Hours is time worked, Hourly Rate is the charge per hour, Flat Fee is a fixed quoted price, and Additional Costs are expenses billed on top of the fee.
Typical Fee Ranges
The values below are common reference points. Your actual agreement controls.
| Fee Structure | Typical Range | Common Use |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency (pre-suit) | 33.33% | Personal injury settled before filing |
| Contingency (litigation) | 40% | Cases that proceed to a lawsuit |
| Hourly | $150 to $500+ per hour | Disputes, business, family law |
| Flat fee | $500 to $5,000+ | Wills, simple filings, document review |
Example Calculations
Example 1, contingency. A case settles for $60,000 at a 33.33% contingency rate with $2,000 in case costs. The attorney fee is 60,000 * (33.33 / 100) = $19,998. The net to the client is 60,000 – 19,998 – 2,000 = $38,002.
Example 2, hourly. An attorney works 12 billable hours at $250 per hour with $300 in additional costs. The total fee is (12 * 250) + 300 = $3,300.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage do most attorneys take from a settlement?
For contingency cases the standard share is about one third, or 33.33%. It often rises to 40% if the case requires filing a lawsuit and going through litigation.
Are case costs included in the contingency fee?
No. Case costs such as filing fees, expert witnesses, and records are usually separate from the attorney percentage. This calculator subtracts both the fee and the costs to show your net recovery.
Which fee structure should I use in the calculator?
Pick the structure that matches your fee agreement. Use contingency for a percentage of a settlement, hourly when you are billed per hour, and flat fee when the lawyer quoted one fixed price.