Contingency Fee vs. Hourly Fee Comparison Calculator

ANA›Life Services Authority›National Calculator Authority›Contingency Fee vs. Hourly Fee Comparison Calculator

.calc-container { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0; padding: 1.5rem; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.06); font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif; } .calc-container h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.15rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin-bottom: 1rem; padding-bottom: 0.5rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-row { display: flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.75rem; margin-bottom: 0.75rem; flex-wrap: wrap; } .calc-row label { min-width: 160px; font-size: 0.9rem; color: #333; font-weight: 500; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { flex: 1; min-width: 120px; max-width: 200px; padding: 0.5rem 0.6rem; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; color: #1a1a1a; background: #fafaf8; } .calc-row input:focus, .calc-row select:focus { outline: none; border-color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); box-shadow: 0 0 0 2px rgba(26,74,138,0.12); } .calc-row .unit { font-size: 0.82rem; color: #888; min-width: 30px; } .calc-btn { display: inline-block; margin-top: 0.5rem; padding: 0.55rem 1.5rem; background: var(--ac, #3d5a80); color: #fff; border: none; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, sans-serif; } .calc-btn:hover { opacity: 0.9; } .calc-result { margin-top: 1.25rem; padding: 1rem 1.25rem; background: #f0f6fc; border-left: 3px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); border-radius: 0 6px 6px 0; display: none; } .calc-result.visible { display: block; } .calc-result-label { font-size: 0.78rem; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.06em; color: #666; margin-bottom: 0.25rem; } .calc-result-value { font-size: 1.6rem; font-weight: 700; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-result-detail { font-size: 0.85rem; color: #555; margin-top: 0.5rem; line-height: 1.5; } .calc-note { margin-top: 1rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #888; font-style: italic; } .calc-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.75rem; margin-top: 0.75rem; } .calc-grid-item { padding: 0.6rem 0.8rem; background: #f8f9fa; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid #eee; } .calc-grid-item .label { font-size: 0.75rem; color: #888; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 0.04em; } .calc-grid-item .value { font-size: 1.1rem; font-weight: 600; color: #1a1a1a; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-row { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-row label { min-width: auto; } .calc-row input[type="number"], .calc-row select { max-width: 100%; width: 100%; } .calc-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } } .calc-chart { margin: 1rem 0; text-align: center; } .calc-chart svg { max-width: 100%; height: auto; } .calc-chart-legend { display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; justify-content: center; gap: 0.6rem 1.2rem; margin-top: 0.6rem; font-size: 0.8rem; color: #555; } .calc-chart-legend span { display: inline-flex; align-items: center; gap: 0.3rem; } .calc-chart-legend i { display: inline-block; width: 10px; height: 10px; border-radius: 2px; font-style: normal; } .calc-related { max-width: 640px; margin: 2rem 0 1rem; padding: 1.25rem 1.5rem; background: #f8f9fa; border: 1px solid #e8e8e8; border-radius: 8px; } .calc-related h3 { font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 1rem; color: #1a1a1a; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; padding-bottom: 0.4rem; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--ac, #3d5a80); } .calc-related-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0 0 0.75rem; display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 0.4rem 1.5rem; } .calc-related-list li a { font-size: 0.88rem; color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-related-list li a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } .calc-browse-all { margin: 0.5rem 0 0; font-size: 0.9rem; font-weight: 600; } .calc-browse-all a { color: var(--ac, #3d5a80); text-decoration: none; } .calc-browse-all a:hover { text-decoration: underline; } @media (max-width: 720px) { .calc-related-list { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }

Contingency Fee vs. Hourly Fee Comparison Calculator

Compare the total cost of hiring an attorney on a contingency fee basis versus an hourly fee basis to determine which arrangement is more financially advantageous for your case.

Expected Settlement or Award Amount ($)

Contingency Fee Percentage (%)

Attorney Hourly Rate ($/hr)

Estimated Hours to Resolve Case (hrs)

Case Expenses / Costs ($) (court fees, experts, etc.)

Are case expenses deducted before or after contingency fee?

Deducted AFTER contingency fee (from client's net) Deducted BEFORE contingency fee (from gross award)

Calculate

function conCalc() { var resultDiv = document.getElementById('con-result');

var settlement = parseFloat(document.getElementById('con-settlement').value); var contingencyRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('con-contingency-rate').value); var hourlyRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('con-hourly-rate').value); var hours = parseFloat(document.getElementById('con-hours').value); var caseExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('con-case-expenses').value) || 0; var expensesWhen = document.getElementById('con-expenses-included').value;

// Validation if (isNaN(settlement) || settlement 60) { resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid contingency fee percentage between 0% and 60%.

';
return;
}
if (isNaN(hourlyRate) || hourlyRate 0 ? 'Hourly Fee' : (savings 0 ? 'calc-highlight-good' : (savings 0
? '✅ Hourly fee saves you $' + fmt(savingsAbs) + ' compared to contingency.': (savings ' + 'MetricContingency FeeHourly Fee' + '' + 'Expected Settlement$' + fmt(settlement) + '$' + fmt(settlement) + '' + 'Attorney Fee$' + fmt(contingencyFee) + ' (' + fmtPct(contingencyRate) + '%)$' + fmt(totalHourlyFees) + ' (' + fmt(hours) + ' hrs × $' + fmt(hourlyRate) + ')' + 'Case Expenses$' + fmt(caseExpenses) + '$' + fmt(caseExpenses) + '' + 'Total Cost to Client$' + fmt(totalCostContingency) + '$' + fmt(totalCostHourly) + '' + 'Client Net Recovery$' + fmt(clientNetContingency) + '$' + fmt(clientNetHourly) + '' + 'Effective Cost Rate' + fmtPct(effectiveContingencyRate) + '% of award' + fmtPct(effectiveHourlyRate) + '% of award' + '' + '' + '' + 'Expense Deduction Method: ' + expensesLabel + '

' + 'Break-Even Settlement: $' + fmt(breakEvenSettlement) + '' + 'At this award amount, both fee arrangements cost the same. ' + 'Above this amount, contingency fees cost more; below it, hourly fees cost more.

' + '' + winnerMsg + '

' + ''; }

#### Formulas Used

Contingency Fee (expenses deducted after): Attorney Fee = Settlement × (Contingency Rate ÷ 100) Total Client Cost = Attorney Fee + Case Expenses Client Net Recovery = Settlement − Attorney Fee − Case Expenses

Contingency Fee (expenses deducted before): Net Award = Settlement − Case Expenses Attorney Fee = Net Award × (Contingency Rate ÷ 100) Total Client Cost = Attorney Fee + Case Expenses Client Net Recovery = Settlement − Attorney Fee − Case Expenses

Hourly Fee: Total Attorney Fees = Hourly Rate × Estimated Hours Total Client Cost = Total Attorney Fees + Case Expenses Client Net Recovery = Settlement − Total Client Cost

Break-Even Settlement: Break-Even = (Hourly Rate × Estimated Hours) ÷ (Contingency Rate ÷ 100) The settlement amount at which both arrangements produce equal attorney fees.

Effective Cost Rate: Effective Rate (%) = (Total Client Cost ÷ Settlement) × 100

#### Assumptions & References

Contingency fees typically range from 25%–40% of the recovery; 33.33% (one-third) is the most common standard rate in the United States (Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5).

Contingency Fee vs. Hourly Fee Comparison Calculator

Contingency Fee vs. Hourly Fee Comparison Calculator

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Contingency Fee vs. Hourly Fee Comparison Calculator

Contingency Fee vs. Hourly Fee Comparison Calculator

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