Illinois Lawyer Referrals and Legal Guidance
Attorney Fees in Class Action Lawsuits
Findgreatlawyers.com is a free service to find an Illinois lawyer for any legal matter including class actions. Our service is run by Illinois lawyers and we allow you to speak with one of our staff attorneys for free. We will answer your questions and if needed point you in the direction of a lawyer that fits your needs. Although we are based in Cook County, we are not just a service to find class action law firms in Chicago. Rather we help people throughout Illinois. If you would like our help please either complete our contact form or call us at (800) 517-1614. All calls are free and confidential. For additional information as to how the lawyers we recommend are paid when they successfully handle a class action lawsuit please read on.
In class action lawsuits – where a group of people with similar claims sues a defendant in a single lawsuit – attorneys are paid on a contingency basis. Different from an hourly fee, a contingency fee is paid only if the case is successful. The contingency fee is usually a percentage of the money recovered at trial or settlement.
In class action suits, a lawyer’s fee is determined by the judge on a case-by-case basis and can vary greatly. Rather than following a set formula, the judge considers the amount of work that the case required, the nature of the case, the amount recovered and the risk involved. This is different from individual lawsuits, where contingency fees are typically 1/3 of the recovery and are agreed upon between lawyer and client.
Among the many parties involved in a class action lawsuit, there is usually a lead plaintiff and a lead attorney who represents the class and does the majority of the work. The lead attorney’s fee is paid out of the money recovered on behalf of the entire group, before it is divided among the members of the class.
Attorney fees in class action lawsuits are often higher than fees in cases where an individual client is paying. This is considered a reward for the risks of taking on such a large case. These risks include paying all the costs of the case upfront, working for free while the case is pending, and the possibility of getting no fee at all if the case is unsuccessful.
Because class action attorneys work on a contingency basis, you should be able to consult with an attorney for free to discuss your case and ask questions. If you would like to talk to an Illinois attorney who specializes in class action lawsuits, please contact us. We know and recommend lawyers all across the state of Illinois, in every county. Every Illinois class action law firm that we recommend has a strong track record of success. We will work with you to connect you with the right firm for your case.