Read the agreement · Separate fees and expenses · Get examples in writing · Compare two sample calculations · Ask who pays if there is no recovery · Read the scope and ending terms
Read the agreement
A contingency arrangement commonly ties the lawyer’s fee to a recovery, but percentages and terms vary. The written agreement controls.
Separate fees and expenses
Ask whether filing fees, records, expert costs, and other expenses are deducted before or after the lawyer’s fee.
Get examples in writing
Ask the firm to show how an example settlement would be divided, including any medical liens or other obligations.
Compare two sample calculations
Ask the firm to illustrate the same hypothetical recovery with different expense amounts. See whether costs are deducted before or after the percentage fee and how any medical repayment or lien is handled. A sample is an explanation of terms, not a prediction.
Ask who pays if there is no recovery
The answer depends on the written agreement and applicable rules. Ask which expenses, if any, you may owe if the matter ends without payment, and whether you approve significant costs before they are incurred.
Read the scope and ending terms
Check which claims and stages the agreement covers, who may perform work, whether a referral arrangement is involved, and how either side can end representation. Ask for a written explanation of anything unclear before signing.
This is general information, not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship.