Real prices, by situation, in plain English.

The four ways lawyers charge.

1. Hourly

The most common structure for litigation, business work, and anything unpredictable. The lawyer bills you for the time spent on your case in 6-minute or 15-minute increments. A $300/hour lawyer who works 40 hours on your case will bill $12,000.

Typical hourly ranges in 2026:

• Solo and small-firm consumer practice: $150-$350/hour
• Mid-size firm specialty work: $300-$600/hour
• Large firm partner: $700-$1,500/hour
• Big Law partner in a major market: $1,200-$2,200/hour

2. Contingency

The lawyer takes a percentage of what you recover. You pay nothing out of pocket. If you lose, you owe nothing (though you may owe court costs and expert fees — read the engagement letter).

Standard contingency percentages:

• 33.3% if the case settles before a lawsuit is filed.
• 40% if a lawsuit is filed and the case settles or wins at trial.
• 45-50% if the case goes to appeal.

Contingency is the standard structure for personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful termination, and certain sexual harassment cases.

3. Flat fee

One price for one defined piece of work. Best for predictable, well-bounded jobs:

• Simple will: $200-$800
• Living trust package: $1,500-$3,500
• LLC formation: $400-$1,500
• Uncontested divorce: $1,500-$3,500
• Trademark application: $700-$2,500 plus filing fees
• Chapter 7 bankruptcy: $1,500-$3,500
• Misdemeanor DUI: $1,500-$5,000 (first offense, no trial)
• Felony defense: $5,000-$50,000+

4. Hybrid / subscription

Increasingly common in business law. A monthly retainer ($1,500-$10,000+) covers a defined volume of advisory work, with hourly billing for anything beyond. Useful when you need a "general counsel" relationship but can't justify a full-time hire.

What's typical for the 30 situations we cover.

Below is the rough cost range for the most common legal situations. These are 2026 national averages; expect 30-50% higher in expensive metros (NYC, SF, DC, LA) and 20-30% lower in smaller markets.

Personal situations

• Divorce: $1,500-$3,500 uncontested flat fee. $5,000-$25,000+ contested, billed hourly.
• Child custody: $3,000-$15,000+ depending on whether mediation or trial.
• Personal injury: Contingency, 33-40%. No upfront cost.
• Criminal defense / DUI: $1,500-$5,000 misdemeanor; $5,000-$50,000+ felony.
• Immigration: $500-$8,000+ depending on petition type. Mostly flat fees.
• Estate planning: $200-$800 simple will; $1,500-$3,500 trust package.
• Bankruptcy: $1,500-$3,500 Chapter 7; $3,500-$6,000 Chapter 13.
• Wrongful termination: Often contingency, 33-40%.
• Real estate: $500-$1,500 flat fee for closing; hourly for disputes.
• Medical malpractice: Contingency, 33-40%.
• Workers' comp: Contingency, capped by state law (often 15-25%).
• Disability / SSDI: Contingency, capped by federal law at $7,200 or 25% of back pay.
• Landlord/tenant: $300-$1,500 for most disputes; some on contingency.
• Consumer protection: Often contingency or fee-shifting (defendant pays).
• Sexual harassment: Often contingency, 33-40%.

Business situations

• LLC formation: $400-$1,500 flat fee.
• Contracts: $500-$3,000 per contract, or $250-$500/hour to review.
• Business litigation: $300-$700/hour. Cases routinely $25,000-$500,000+.
• Trademark / IP: $700-$2,500 trademark application; hourly for disputes.
• Employment (employer-side): $250-$600/hour or monthly retainer.
• Tax / IRS: $250-$700/hour. Resolution cases often $3,500-$15,000.
• M&A: $400-$1,200/hour. Deals $50,000-$2M+.
• Data privacy: $300-$700/hour. Compliance projects $15,000-$150,000.
• Securities: $500-$1,500/hour.
• Construction: $300-$600/hour.
• Government contracts: $400-$900/hour.
• Franchise: $250-$600/hour or flat fees for FDD review.
• Nonprofit formation: $1,500-$5,000 for 501(c)(3) setup.
• Environmental: $400-$900/hour.
• Insurance claims: Often contingency.

What "free consultation" actually means.

A free consultation is usually 15-30 minutes with an attorney to discuss your situation, evaluate whether you have a case worth pursuing, and explain how the firm would charge if you hire them. It is not legal advice you can rely on outside of that engagement, and it is not the start of an attorney-client relationship.

Use the consultation to find out: do they handle cases like yours regularly? What do they think the rough outcome and timeline look like? What's the fee structure? Do they have any conflicts? See how to compare firms for a full checklist.

Three ways to keep legal costs down.

1. Show up prepared. Every minute the lawyer spends gathering basic facts is a minute you're paying for. Send documents in advance. Write a one-page summary. Bring dates and dollar amounts to the first meeting.

2. Pick a flat fee where one is offered. If your case is well-bounded — a will, an LLC, an uncontested divorce — a flat fee almost always beats hourly because there's no incentive for the lawyer to take longer.

3. Don't shop on hourly rate alone. A $400/hour specialist who finishes in 8 hours is cheaper than a $200/hour generalist who needs 25 hours to do the same job. Total cost matters, not the rate.