Legal Fees and Billing Policies In cases where I represent a client for an accident my contingency fee is 1/3 of what I can recover for my client. If I represent a client for a worker's compensation claim my fee is 25% of any recovery but any fee for a worker's compensation claim must first be approved by the North Carolina Industrial Commission.  If I am unable to make a recovery then I receive no fee.  An initial consultation for a personal injury or worker's compensation case is free. For some legal matters, criminal, as well as preparation of documents, such as wills, powers of attorney, and health care directives, I charge a flat rate. For others I may quote a fee based on an hourly rate.  My usual hourly rate is $250.00 per hour. After our initial consultation and you elect to retain my services, we will enter into a Retainer or Fee Agreement which outlines my specific fees and billing policies. In cases not based on a contingency, a "retainer" may be required; the amount depends on the case. This retainer is deposited into my trust account as insurance of payment. This payment can be made by cash, check, or Visa/Mastercard.  Fees are what an attorney charges for services. Costs are those expenses an attorney expends in the client’s case. These costs include, but are not limited to, filing fees, subpoenas, deposition costs, travel expenses, long distance calls, facsimiles, most computer research, postage and copying expenses. Where those charges amount in any particular instance to more than $50, I will first obtain authorization from my client. In any event, costs will be itemized in a detailed invoice. If I am billing on an hourly basis, my time is entered in 1/10 of an hour increments and is calculated and accounted for when the activity is done. When questions arise, you are encouraged to contact me to resolve any questions and I will always seek to ensure that billing is fair.