Calculate attorney contingency fees and client net payout from a legal settlement. Estimate fees at 25–40% and deduct case expenses.
Contingency fee arrangements allow clients to hire attorneys without paying upfront. Instead, the attorney receives a percentage of the settlement or judgment — typically 25–40%. If the case is lost, the client owes no attorney fees (though they may still owe case costs).
This calculator helps clients understand how much they will actually receive from a settlement after the contingency fee and case costs are deducted. It clearly shows the attorney's share and the client's net payout.
Contingency fees are most common in personal injury, medical malpractice, employment discrimination, and class action cases. Understanding the fee structure before signing a retainer agreement helps clients make informed decisions about pursuing their claims.
Legal professionals, business owners, and individuals alike benefit from transparent contingency fee calculations when evaluating obligations, settlements, or compliance requirements. Bookmark this page and return whenever circumstances change so you always have current figures at your fingertips.
From contract negotiations to dispute resolution, having reliable contingency fee numbers at your disposal strengthens your position and streamlines decision-making. Adjust the inputs to reflect your unique circumstances and run the calculation as many times as needed to cover every plausible scenario.
From contract negotiations to dispute resolution, having reliable contingency fee numbers at your disposal strengthens your position and streamlines decision-making. Adjust the inputs to reflect your unique circumstances and run the calculation as many times as needed to cover every plausible scenario.
Many clients do not realize how much of their settlement goes to the attorney. This calculator provides transparency, helping clients evaluate settlement offers with full knowledge of their actual take-home amount. Instant recalculation as you change inputs lets you model multiple scenarios quickly, giving you the data foundation needed for well-informed legal and financial decisions.
Attorney Fee = Settlement × Contingency Rate Client Net = Settlement − Attorney Fee − Case Costs
Result: $45,002.50 client net
Attorney fee = $75,000 × 33.33% = $24,997.50. Client net = $75,000 − $24,997.50 − $5,000 = $45,002.50.
Personal injury: 33–40%. Medical malpractice: 25–33% (often capped by state law). Employment discrimination: 33–40%. Class actions: 25–33% of the class recovery. Workers' compensation: 15–25% (often capped).
Contingency fees cover the attorney's time. Case costs — filing fees, depositions, expert witnesses, medical records, postage — are separate. These can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars for complex cases.
Before accepting a settlement, calculate your net after fees and costs. A $100,000 settlement may net only $55,000–60,000 after a 33% fee and $5,000–10,000 in costs. Compare this net amount to the time, risk, and stress of continuing litigation.
A contingency fee is a payment arrangement where the attorney's fee is a percentage of the recovery. If there is no recovery, the client pays no attorney fee. This allows people without funds to pursue valid legal claims.
The most common rate is 33.33% (one-third). Pre-suit settlements may be 25%, while cases that go to trial are often 40%. Some complex cases or appeals may reach 45%. Rates are negotiable.
It depends on your fee agreement. Some contingency arrangements are "pure" (no costs if you lose). Others require the client to reimburse out-of-pocket costs regardless of outcome.
For personal injury cases, the settlement is typically tax-free, so the fee question is moot. For taxable settlements (employment, commercial), attorney fees may be deductible. Consult a tax professional.
Some attorneys allow conversion, but this is uncommon. If the case appears strong and likely to settle quickly, hourly billing might save money. Discuss options upfront.
A sliding scale changes the percentage based on stages: 25% if settled pre-suit, 33% if filed but settled before trial, and 40% if tried to verdict. This aligns the attorney's compensation with the effort required.