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What kind of lawyer do you need?

Lawyers specialize. Pick the area closest to your problem: each guide explains what that lawyer does, how they usually charge, deadlines to watch and your first steps. Not sure? Try our 5-question check.

All practice areas

Car accident Injury & accidentsCar accident Usually no fee unless you win (contingency) Truck accident Injury & accidentsTruck accident Usually contingency: no upfront fee Motorcycle accident Injury & accidentsMotorcycle accident Usually contingency: no upfront fee Slip and fall Injury & accidentsSlip and fall Usually contingency: no upfront fee Medical malpractice Injury & accidentsMedical malpractice Contingency; some states cap the percentage Wrongful death Injury & accidentsWrongful death Usually contingency: no upfront fee Workers’ compensation Work & employmentWorkers’ compensation Fee usually set or capped by state law Employment law Work & employmentEmployment law Contingency for many employee cases; hourly for advice Divorce Family lawDivorce Hourly with a retainer; flat fees for uncontested cases Child custody & support Family lawChild custody & support Hourly with a retainer DUI / DWI Criminal & trafficDUI / DWI Usually a flat fee; varies with trial Criminal defense Criminal & trafficCriminal defense Flat fee or hourly; public defenders if you qualify Bankruptcy Money & debtBankruptcy Flat fee; Chapter 13 fees often paid through the plan Social Security disability Money & debtSocial Security disability Paid from back pay only if you win (capped by law) Wills, trusts & estate planning Wills & estatesWills, trusts & estate planning Usually flat fees for wills and trusts Probate Wills & estatesProbate Hourly, flat fee, or a percentage set by state law Landlord & tenant Property & housingLandlord & tenant Hourly or flat fee; legal aid for many tenants Real estate Property & housingReal estate Flat fee for closings; hourly for disputes Small business BusinessSmall business Flat fees for formation; hourly for disputes Immigration Family lawImmigration Usually flat fees per application Dog bite Injury & accidentsDog bite Usually no fee unless you win (contingency) Uber & Lyft accident Injury & accidentsUber & Lyft accident Usually no fee unless you win (contingency) Pedestrian accident Injury & accidentsPedestrian accident Usually no fee unless you win (contingency) Nursing home abuse & neglect Injury & accidentsNursing home abuse & neglect Usually no fee unless you win (contingency) Wrongful termination Work & employmentWrongful termination Often contingency or a free first consult; some bill hourly Traumatic brain injury Injury & accidentsTraumatic brain injury Usually no fee unless you win (contingency)

How lawyers charge, in short

  • Contingency: a percentage of what you recover; nothing upfront. Common for injury cases.
  • Flat fee: one price for a defined job: wills, uncontested divorces, many criminal cases.
  • Hourly with a retainer: an upfront deposit billed against by the hour: common in family law and disputes.

Estimate typical costs with our lawyer cost estimator.