Seven Dogged Myths Concerning Contingency Fees

Abstract

Myths and misinformation abounds concerning the American contingency fee system. In this paper I discuss seven common perceptions about contingency fees and present evidence that each is mistaken. The seven issues considered are (1) contingency fees are peculiarly American, (2) most contingency fee cases involve little risk, (3) advertising by the plaintiffs' bar has produced a flood of clients seeking compensation, (4) contingency fee lawyers accept most cases that potential clients bring to them, (5) contingency fee lawyers charge a standard fee of one-third of the recovery, (6) lawyers routinely obtain windfalls from contingency fees, and (7) the interests of contingency fee lawyers and their clients are routinely in conflict. The analysis in this paper draws heavily on material discussed in 'Risks, Reputations, and Rewards: Contingency Fee Legal Practice in the United States' (SSRN Abstract No. 572883).

Keywords: Contingent fee, contingency fee, tort, plaintiff, lawyer