Believe it or not, rates may vary anywhere from $50 an hour to a $1,000 an hour or more. In rural areas and small towns, lawyers tend to charge less, and fees in the range of $100 to $200 an hour for an experienced attorney are probably the norm. In major metropolitan areas, the norm is probably closer to $200 to $400 an hour. Lawyers with expertise in specialized areas may charge much A retainer fee is an advance payment that a client makes to his or her lawyer before the lawyer begins working on the case. It is similar to a down payment and allows the lawyer to draw funds for various fees as the case proceeds. Retainer fees are different than having a lawyer on retainer.. Having a lawyer on retainer means that the client pays a small fee to the lawyer on a regular basis in order to keep the lawyer on hand to perform legal work anytime it is needed. 1 However, a retainer is usually included in the overall braces fee, so there is no additional charge for the first set of retainers -- and some orthodontists include one or two replacements in their standard braces package. 2  If not included, replacement retainers can cost $70-$250 for one or $140-$500 or more for a set. 1 Using a removable retainer to correct a minor overbite typically involves a series of retainers plus several office visits, X-Rays and fittings. 2  This can cost $500-$2,500, although in some cases it can be $5,000 or more, depending on the complexity and length of treatment. A retainer is a fee paid to an attorney or other professional in advance, for services. Often, retainers are paid monthly, based on an estimate of the amount of work to be done for the client each month. A retainer might work like this: You would pay your attorney $500 a month for legal services during that month.  Retainer fees are also used when a client needs to hire an attorney for a long-term relationship. For instance, many businesses have an attorney “on retainer” in case legal issues come up in the course of the business’s everyday work. Once the retainer fee is used up, the attorney may bill the client in one of several ways. The attorney may charge her usual hourly fee, or she may enter into a contingency fee agreement with the client. Whether they bill by the hour or by the case, defense lawyers typically want defendants to pay a retainer fee up front, before the attorney begins working on the case. For example, a lawyer who bills at the rate of $100 an hour may want clients to pay up front for 20 hours of the lawyer’s time, or $2,000.  The amount that a lawyer charges for a retainer fee varies from lawyer to lawyer, and will also vary depending on the type of legal problem that you are having. For example, if the lawyer thinks that a client’s matter can be dealt with quickly and easily, the lawyer may charge less of a retainer fee. You may have to pay a retainer fee multiple times. How many times you have to pay this lump-sum fee to the lawyer will depend on many factors, including how much work must be done on your file, and how complex that work is. Read more. A lawyer retainer fee is usually based on a written agreement, signed by both the client and the attorney. The written agreement establishes the amount of the retainer fee, what the attorney must do with the retainer when she receives it, and what sorts of things the lawyer may use the retainer to purchase. Once the retainer fee is used up, the attorney may bill the client in one of several ways. The attorney may charge her usual hourly fee, or she may enter into a contingency fee agreement with the client. 1 Hourly Rate: The lawyer will charge you for each hour (or portion of an hour) that the lawyer works on your case. 2  Thus, for example, if the lawyer's fee is $100 per hour and the lawyer works 5 hours, the fee will be $500. 3  This is the most typical fee arrangement. 1 Contingency Fees: The lawyer's fee is based on a percentage of the amount awarded in the case. 2  If you lose the case, the lawyer does not get a fee, but you will still have to pay expenses. 3  Contingency fee percentages vary. 4  A one-third fee is common. 1 A lawyer working on an hourly basis deducts that hourly rate from the retainer as the work is done. 2  When the retainer is gone, you will be billed for an additional payment. 3  Retainers for felony crime cases start around $5,000-$10,000 but can be $25,000 or more for serious cases, according to ExpertLaw.com. 1 When the retainer is gone, you will be billed for an additional payment. 2
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how much is a lawyer on retainer