Since 2001 Findgreatlawyers.com has been the leading internet resource to find Illinois lawyers and Illinois legal information

A contingency attorney takes cases on a contingency basis, which means that you only pay a fee if (and when) you win your case. You pay nothing up front, and if you lose, there is no fee. There are contingency attorneys throughout the state, including Sangamon County. If you have a contingency case here, the main courthouse is located at 200 S. 9th Street in Springfield.

Whether you will pay on a contingency basis depends on the type of case you have. The most common example of a contingency case is a personal injury lawsuit – slip and fall, car accident, work injury, sexual harassment, medical malpractice, etc. Basically, if your case involves seeking a sum of money (called damages) from the defendant, then you’ll probably pay a contingency fee. If your case does not involve money or you are on the defense side (criminal charges or civil lawsuit against you), then you’ll pay another type of fee, probably hourly or a flat rate depending on the case and the attorney.

When you have a contingency case, all the costs of the lawsuit, from court filing costs to fees for expert testimony, should be covered by the law firm or attorney representing you. Because it’s set up in this way, we suggest hiring an attorney or firm with the resources to do everything they can for your case. You don’t want to hire an attorney who needs the money from your case in order to stay in business. This could cause them to push for settlement when taking it to trial might be in your best interests.

If you have a very unique case, or one that is going to be especially expensive to pursue, we might recommend a Chicago firm because of their experience or resources. For a more typical injury case, you might be better off with a local attorney, or someone in Springfield, who knows the Sangamon County judges and attorneys. Having an attorney with a good local reputation can give you an advantage. We weigh these factors when helping you find the best attorney for your particular case.

Contingency fees have pros and cons, for both the client and the attorney. While a contingency fee allows a client with no money to pursue a case and hire the best attorney out there, they will have to share what they win with their attorney. A typical fee is 1/3 of the amount awarded at trial or negotiated in settlement. For the attorney, this is a nice fee, but the risk is that they might spend hours upon hours on a case and not get paid at all if the case is lost.

Not all contingency fees are 1/3. In some cases it might be more, in others less. The important thing to remember is that you should sign a fee agreement at the beginning of your case so that you know what to expect. And before you sign, ask a lot of questions to be sure you know what you’re agreeing to. A good attorney will take the time to explain everything.

If you need help finding a contingency attorney in Springfield, elsewhere in Sangamon County, or even in Chicago, feel free to contact us. Our goal is to answer your questions honestly and only recommend an attorney we believe is a good fit for you and your case.