How Legal Fees Work
Contingency, hourly, and flat-fee structures, explained in plain English — so you know what to expect before you sign.
How We Charge
Not every legal matter works the same way, and neither does how we charge for one. We use three fee structures depending on the type of case. We will explain the fee arrangement for your specific matter before any work begins, and every fee agreement is put in writing so there are no surprises.
Personal Injury — Contingency Fee
Personal injury cases — including car accidents, trucking accidents, slip-and-fall, and wrongful death — are handled on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney's fee unless we recover money for you. The fee is a percentage of the recovery, agreed to in writing before we begin work.
If there is no recovery, there is no attorney's fee. You remain responsible for case costs regardless of outcome, and we will explain how costs work before you sign. Personal injury consultations are always free.
Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation & General Matters — Hourly
Criminal defense (DUI, drug charges, assault, theft, expungements), civil litigation, contract disputes, landlord-tenant matters, and most non-injury cases are billed at an hourly rate. The rate and any advance deposit depend on the scope, urgency, complexity, court posture, and expected work involved in your specific matter.
We discuss the fee and deposit during the consultation so you understand the arrangement before committing. We track time in increments and send periodic statements so you can see what is being done on your case.
Some Estate Planning — Flat Fee
For certain estate planning services with a well-defined scope — such as a simple will, a durable power of attorney, or an advance healthcare directive — we may offer a flat fee so you know the total cost up front. The flat fee is quoted after we understand the scope of your needs during the consultation.
More complex estate planning (revocable living trusts, trust funding, probate administration) may be billed hourly or by a hybrid arrangement, depending on the work involved.
Consultations
Personal injury consultations are always free. Whether your case involves a car accident, a slip-and-fall, a trucking collision, or any other injury caused by someone else's negligence, there is no charge to meet with us, review the facts, and learn your options.
Other matters begin with a consultation request. Spend an hour with Bud Sheppard discussing the key facts, your options, and next steps. After reviewing your request, the firm confirms the fee and agreed preliminary document review before you decide whether to proceed with payment and scheduling. Extensive records or additional work are scoped separately before any additional charge. There is no charge to submit an initial request. Choose your consultation and see how to prepare.
Fees vs. Costs — What's the Difference?
People sometimes use "fees" and "costs" interchangeably, but in a legal matter they are different things:
- Attorney's fees are what you pay for the lawyer's time and professional work. In a contingency case, this is the agreed percentage of the recovery. In an hourly case, it is the rate multiplied by the time spent. In a flat-fee case, it is the agreed amount for the defined scope.
- Costs are the out-of-pocket expenses of pursuing or defending a case — things like court filing fees, deposition transcripts, expert witness fees, record retrieval, service of process, and postage. Costs are separate from the attorney's fee and are your responsibility.
In many personal-injury matters, we may advance certain case costs, and the written fee agreement explains how repayment works. In hourly and flat-fee matters you are typically responsible for costs as they are incurred. Every fee agreement explains how costs are handled so you know what to expect.
Written Fee Agreements
Representation begins after the firm accepts the engagement and both you and the firm sign a written engagement agreement. That agreement spells out the fee structure, the scope of representation, how costs are handled, and what happens if the matter resolves early or the attorney-client relationship ends. You should never sign a fee agreement you do not understand, and we encourage you to ask questions before signing.
Your consultation fee and scope are confirmed before payment. Fees for additional work or ongoing representation depend on the facts, complexity, and agreed scope of the matter and are addressed in a separate written agreement. Submitting a request does not mean the firm has accepted the consultation or the underlying matter.
Have Questions About Fees?
Send a brief written request. If the matter is a fit, the firm follows up by email with consultation details. Personal injury consultations are free; for other matters the fee is confirmed before payment and scheduling.