Q: What are attorneys' fees?

A: Attorneys' fees are the amount of money that the attorneys, staff, and law firm are paid for the legal services they provide. In most personal injury and wrongful death cases, attorneys' fees are on a contingency bases. Under this arrangement, the attorneys' fees are based on a percentage of what you are awarded in the case. If the case is lost, the attorneys do not typically recover a fee, although you may have to pay some expenses or costs. The contingency fee percentage varies and some lawyers offer a sliding scale based on how far along the case is when it is resolved. A one-third fee (33.33%) is common if your case is not litigated. If your case is litigated, the attorneys' fees may increase and are subject to the amount recovered at trial.