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Simple English definitions for legal terms

attorney's fee

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A quick definition of attorney's fee:

Attorney's fee: The money paid to a lawyer for their legal services. Lawyers can charge in different ways, like by the hour, a flat fee for a specific service, or a percentage of the money won in a case. It's important for the lawyer and client to have a signed contract for any extensive legal work. A "retainer" is a down payment on fees. Attorney fee disputes can be decided by arbitration. Attorney's fees are not awarded to the winning party in a lawsuit except where there is a provision in a contract for the fees or there is a statute which provides for an award of fees in the particular type of case.

A more thorough explanation:

An attorney's fee is the payment made to a lawyer for their legal services. There are different ways that attorneys charge for their services:

  • Hourly charge: The lawyer charges a certain amount of money for each hour they work on the case.
  • Flat fee: The lawyer charges a fixed amount of money for a specific service, such as writing a will.
  • Contingent fee: The lawyer gets paid a percentage of the amount of money the client wins in a case. If the client doesn't win, the lawyer doesn't get paid.
  • Statutory fees: The lawyer charges a percentage of an estate for representing the estate.
  • Court-approved fees: The lawyer charges fees that are approved by the court, such as in bankruptcy or guardianships.

It's important for the lawyer and the client to have a signed contract for any extensive legal work, especially in contingent fee cases. The lawyer keeps records of the time spent on the case to justify the fees, even when the work is not on an hourly basis. A "retainer" is a down payment on fees, often required by the lawyer to make sure they are not left holding the bag for work performed, or at least as a good faith indication that the client is serious and can afford the services.

For example, if a lawyer charges $200 per hour and works on a case for 10 hours, the attorney's fee would be $2,000. Another example is if a lawyer charges a flat fee of $250 to write a will, the attorney's fee would be $250. In a contingent fee case, if the lawyer and client agree on a one-third fee and the client wins $90,000, the attorney's fee would be $30,000.

Attorney fee disputes can be decided by arbitration, often operated by the local bar association. Attorney's fees are not awarded to the winning party in a lawsuit except where there is a provision in a contract for the fees or there is a statute which provides for an award of fees in the particular type of case.

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manifestmoreadmissions
20:58
it looks like this past cycle about 1300 people reported applying to fordham on LSD out of the ~6300 applications total that fordham received
KnowledgeableRitzyWasp
21:25
you should really try to get your lsat score up if you’ve got a 3.95 gpa. you spent 4 years doing very well in school you should get an lsat to match that
[] ararara
9:11
@HangingAboriginalLeopard: you know your goals and how much effort you’ve put into getting your already excellent score but I’m with wasp if you don’t feel like you’ve reached your full potential then take the challenge head on! Grab the devil by the horns! Stamp that man into the ground!!
[] ararara
9:12
Somewhere he’ll never get out!!!!
manifestmoreadmissions
10:18
for those of you wondering if admissions offices are working today i got an email from an adcomm today responding to something i sent earlier in the week
GoodUnbecomingMacaque
11:30
What does an interview for a transfer student at george mason mean?
trees1234567
12:02
JB was here yesterday dang it!!
LegalUsername
12:05
Are law schools open today or do they also have another day off considering it's sandwiched between July 4th and the weekend?
lawnfire2896
12:57
they're open
AboardCloisteredAvatar
14:09
is wash u open
menherachan
14:32
@HangingAboriginalLeopard: my lsat is a 168, but i got the fordham wl this cycle. i applied to it as a safety, so im kinda surprised about the wl
lawnfire2896
14:46
washu is open
amlaw
14:57
vanderbilt clearly is
AboardCloisteredAvatar
15:14
Why clearly lol
amlaw
15:17
two acceptances today
AboardCloisteredAvatar
15:19
what !! Crazy
manifestmoreadmissions
15:32
oh congrats to the vandy admits!!!
TacitSplendidShrew
17:08
Hi everybody, I am applying to schools this August. I could use some brief help with optics for my personal statement, as I am a first-gen student in every regard--even at the high school graduate level.
trees1234567
17:17
what help are you looking for!
trees1234567
17:17
happy to give advice if helpful
darthaifos33
22:42
Hey Everyone, I am also applying this cycle and have a question about my personal statement. I want to become a lawyer because of a personal trauma I experienced in the past. Is this too sensitive of a topic to mention in a PS? I won't go into detail and only mention it as it relates to my inspiration to be a lawyer.
[] ararara
23:18
Yo! LSD has an AI consultant named Molly to help detect for red flags and trauma dumping in personal statements. You can try it at no charge by signing up for a free trial of LSD+. Think it gives you like two weeks for free or something though so be mindful of how advanced you are in PS drafts. Might want to time it so you have access when it’s most important.
[] ararara
23:20
@darthaifos33: this is just my opinion but I think it’s important to try and keep things positive if you can because it will reflect well on you if you can. I’ve been fortunate to read a lot of PSs as an lsat tutor and I’ve gotta say there is a lot of darkness in the world. It’s cliche but that’s the perfect time for your heart to shine through! Also, always keep in mind you’re applying to a professional school so there has to be that relevance I think.
[] ararara
23:22
Even though it’s impossible try to imagine a bunch of candidates who have had it way harder than what you’re saying but are also big about it. That’s why I think it looks better to be positive if you can about trauma even though it can be hard af.
darthaifos33
23:53
Of course! I plan to positvely weave it through my narrative and relevant professional experience in a way that isn't too dark or anything like that. I just wasn't sure if it was a big taboo or anything like that
[] ararara
0:00
@TacitSplendidShrew: @darthaifos33 https://drive.google.com/drive/mobile/folders/1jsyd1Mq8RlyMVqli_BW9z1uxY2SzNtFK?sort=13&direction=a definitely try molly and check this link out as well! The only thing about molly is some apps ask if you used AI to write your statement so be mindful of what they’re asking/what you’re using molly for!
manifestmoreadmissions
9:44
is LSDs AI assistant being named molly on purpose
KimchiQueen
10:25
@manifestmoreadmissions: OMG LOL
KimchiQueen
10:26
@manifestmoreadmissions: OMG LOL
LegalUsername
10:26
lol
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