Legal Fees and Payment at Onyx Law Group

Cost is one of the first questions people ask, and it is a fair one. At Onyx Law Group we talk about fees openly at the start, so you can make a decision with the full picture in front of you. Most files settle before trial, which usually keeps the total well below what a trial from start to finish would run.

There is more than one way to pay. Some clients work on a contingency fee, where our fee is a percentage of the result and is paid only if we obtain a settlement or a trial award, with ongoing out-of-pocket costs such as filing fees covered as the file moves along. Others prefer a traditional hourly rate retainer. Which one fits depends on your circumstances and the nature of your file. You can read more about the firm on our About Us page.

Full transcript

Taking a matter to an average trial of 10 days may cost upwards of eighty thousand dollars, but most files settle well before trial and cost much less than that. Settlement can occur early on, shortly after initial pleadings have been filed, but trials are not typically set down for at least one year after a claim is filed, due to the heavy caseload of the trial courts. We also offer flexible billing arrangements such as contingency fee and hourly rate retainers.

Contingency fee arrangements are where we are not paid a fee until we obtain a result by a settlement or trial for you, when we take a percentage of the result. You would only be responsible for paying ongoing out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees and photocopies. Hourly rate retainers are the traditional charge-by-the-hour arrangements. Choice of either type of retainer is dependent on your risk-reward ratio and whether the value of your file merits a contingency fee arrangement. Get in touch with us today to start the process, and we’ll be happy to answer any additional questions.

Want to understand what your matter might cost? Book a consultation with Onyx Law Group to talk about fees and options, contact us here.