Court & Hearings

If you need a lawyer Someone who represents clients in courts or who gives legal advice and can't afford to pay one, use our Get legal help to see if there is a free or low-cost lawyer near you for help with landlord An owner of property who rents it out to a tenant -tenant A person who rents a space disputes, orders of protection, wage theft The unlawful taking of property, money, or services from another person, business, or organization , and other issues.

If you hire a lawyer, you need to pay them for their services. These are the types of things the lawyer may charge you for. 

Time spent on the case

The lawyer can charge you for the time they spend on your case. Always ask before you sign an agreement.  For example, they might make phone calls, go to court, have a meeting, or conduct a deposition An oral statement made under oath . All of these costs should be clearly outlined in any agreement you sign with the lawyer. This is called a retainer or fee agreement which is often non-refundable.

Lawyer’s fees vary by their level within the firm. For example, let's say there is an associate lawyer who has less than three years of experience. They will charge less than a lawyer who is a senior partner at the firm. Lawyer billing rates can range from $150-$500 per hour in rural or small-town areas; city lawyers may charge $500 - $1,000 per hour. A lawyer with a particular specialty may charge up to $2,500 per hour. 

The law firm representing you may also have paralegals working on your case. Paralegals are people who are not lawyers but who have certain legal skills. Most paralegals are allowed to bill clients for the work they perform. Paralegal rates usually range from $100-$175 per hour.

Court costs and expenses

There are fees for filing a lawsuit. These fees vary by county and range between $300 and $400 depending on the type of lawsuit. 

Some people may be eligible for a fee waiver to file a lawsuit.  Fee waivers are often based on financial need. Fee waivers may also be granted in other cases, such as for a victim of domestic violence Harm by one household or family member against another household or family member. Harm may be an emotional, mental, or physical injury . 

Lawyers will also charge for copying and postage expenses, including FedEx and UPS. Copy charges are usually $0.05 to $0.10 per page.

Subpoena fees

Lawyers will also charge for getting documents and information about your case. This is done with a subpoena. A subpoena requires a person to come to court, go to a deposition, or give documents or evidence Anything used to show that something is true to you. 

The person who receives the subpoena is the “deponent.” In Illinois, witness A person who answers questions in court under oath fees are $20 per day and $0.20 per mile round trip. 

Deposition and witness fees

There are often witnesses to an incident. These witnesses will also be given a subpoena for their deposition. A deposition is a statement under oath where the witness answers questions about the case. The deposition is taken in front of a notary public A person who certifies that another person signed a document. A notary is not an attorney. . This is usually a court reporter who is typing the transcript of what everyone says. The court reporting fees can range from $75 to $175 per hour. There is also a fee for the transcript, usually between $3.00 to $8.00 per page.

Trial expenses

If your case goes to trial When the issues of a case are heard in court and decided by a judge or jury , there could be more fees. Talk to your lawyer about what they think a trial will cost before signing an agreement with them.

Lawyers that don't charge or charge less

Some lawyers do not charge you. This is usually because they are taking the case pro bono Legal work done for little or no cost or they work for a legal aid agency. If it is a criminal case, the lawyer will be a public defender A free lawyer appointed by the criminal court when a defendant cannot afford to pay for a lawyer . 

Other lawyers work on a "sliding scale," such as the Justice Entrepreneur’s Project. This means they charge less for people who have less money and more for people who have more. 

Limited scope representation is where a lawyer agrees to help with only part of a legal case. You can divide the case into parts, with you doing some parts and the lawyer helping with others. For instance, the lawyer may review your completed documents or help you with hearings.

Contingency Fees

For some types of cases, like personal injury cases, lawyers have an arrangement where they get paid only if you win.

Flat Fees

For certain types of cases, a lawyer will charge a flat fee. A flat fee is a set amount for a specific service, regardless of the amount of time it will take to complete it. Flat fees are typically charged for standard legal tasks.

Retainer Fees

Lawyers may charge you a set amount of money before they provide services to represent you. The money reserves the time and expertise of the lawyer. Retainer fees do not represent the total cost of the services the lawyer will provide.

Consultation Fees

Lawyers may charge a fee for your initial consultation. Consultation is where you meet with your lawyer for the first time to discuss your case. Be sure to ask when you are making the appointment whether you will owe any money. 

Statutory Fees

Sometimes a lawyer will charge a fee set by law. A court will usually dictate or approve the fee you must pay.