People often ask us, how much does an employment lawyer cost? For most workers who were fired, harassed, or treated unfairly, the answer is nothing upfront. Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers works on contingency, and your first consultation is free. This guide explains how employment lawyers get paid, what extra costs to ask about, and how to pick the right one. It's part of our guide to employment lawyer practice areas.

How much does an employment lawyer cost on contingency?

A contingency fee means the lawyer gets paid only if you recover money. If you settle or win at trial, the lawyer takes an agreed percentage of the recovery. If you don't recover anything, you don't owe a fee. That's what people mean when they search for a no win no fee employment lawyer.

The percentage varies by firm. In California, it commonly runs from about one-third to 40 or 50 percent of the recovery, and it often rises if the case goes to trial. Your agreement should be in writing, and it should spell out exactly when the percentage changes and how case costs are handled. [NEEDS D9: the firm's own fee percentage and how case costs are handled.]

In some cases, the law also makes the employer pay your attorney's fees if you win. Examples include many discrimination and harassment cases, and some cases where you were fired for reporting wage or safety problems. That can help your recovery go further.

How employment lawyers charge for their services

Employment lawyers use several fee models. Here's how each one works.

• Contingency fee: a percentage of your settlement or verdict, with no fee if you lose. This is the usual model for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims.

• Hourly rate: you pay for each hour or part of an hour. It's the most common model in business and contract work, and rates depend on the lawyer's experience.

• Flat fee: one set price, usually for a simple job such as reviewing a contract or a severance offer. Ask what it covers.

• Retainer: money you pay upfront that the lawyer draws down as work gets done.

• Consultation fee: a charge for the first meeting. Many employee-side firms don't charge one, so ask before you book.

What a lawyer charges also depends on the lawyer's skill, the type of case, the time it will take, and the firm's size and location.

Costs besides the lawyer's fee

A fee and a case cost aren't the same thing. Case costs are the out-of-pocket expenses of running your case, and they can include court filing fees, deposition transcripts, and expert witnesses. Ask these questions before you sign:

• Do I owe case costs if we lose?

• Is the percentage taken before or after costs come out?

• Who decides whether to hire an expert?

• Will I get a written report of costs as the case moves?

A good lawyer answers these questions clearly and gives you a rough timeline. Cases that settle can finish in months. Cases that go to court often take one to two years, and an appeal adds at least another year.

How much does an employment lawyer cost in a discrimination case?

The question "how much does a discrimination lawyer cost" has the same answer as most employee-side claims. You typically pay nothing upfront, and the lawyer's fee comes out of any settlement or verdict. Sexual harassment, retaliation, and leave claims usually work this way too.

Firings follow the same pattern. What a wrongful termination lawyer costs usually comes down to a percentage of a recovery, which means no payment unless you win or settle. Unpaid wage cases often work on contingency as well, and you can read more on our wage and hour page. See our pages on wrongful termination and discrimination for how those cases work. If you want to know what a case may be worth, read how much you can get for suing your employer and our guide to wrongful termination settlement amounts.

Does your case qualify for a no win no fee lawyer?

Lawyers on contingency take on risk, so they screen cases carefully. At a consultation, we look at four things:

• How strong your evidence is, such as emails, reviews, and pay records.

• Whether the mistreatment ties back to a protected reason, such as your race, age, sex, disability, leave, or a complaint you made.

• What you can recover, including lost pay and other damages.

• Whether the employer can pay a settlement or judgment.

If we can't take your case, we tell you why. We may also point you to other help. A "no" from one firm isn't always the end, and your deadlines keep running, so don't wait.

If you were offered severance, call a lawyer first

A severance agreement usually asks you to give up your right to sue. Once you sign, that waiver is generally permanent. Employers often offer severance to limit their risk, not out of kindness.

A lawyer can read the agreement before you sign, tell you what you'd be giving up, and sometimes negotiate a better offer. We review severance offers as part of a free consultation.

How an employment lawyer helps you

• Clarity: state and federal laws overlap, and a lawyer explains which ones fit your facts.

• Deadlines: the filing steps and deadlines are strict, and a missed step can end a claim.

• An equal footing: your employer has lawyers, and a lawyer on your side makes the employer take your claim seriously.

• Discovery: your lawyer can question witnesses under oath, and those answers can put real pressure on the employer.

Most cases settle, but your lawyer should be ready to take the case to a jury if needed.

What to look for in an employment lawyer

• A focus on employment law, not a little bit of everything.

• A clean record. Check the lawyer's license and discipline history on the State Bar of California website.

• A lawyer who represents employees only, so there's no question about whose side they're on.

• Experience with your kind of case, such as harassment, wage claims, or leave.

• A clear fee agreement and a clear explanation of the timeline.

How to protect your rights before you hire anyone

• Stay calm at work and avoid angry messages that could be used against you.

• Report problems to a supervisor or HR in writing, and keep a copy.

• Write down dates, names, and what was said, and save emails and texts.

• Get names of coworkers who saw what happened.

Then book a consultation. The sooner you call, the easier it is to protect your evidence and your deadlines.

Why employees choose Kingsley Szamet

Eric Kingsley and Kelsey Szamet lead the firm, and we represent employees only. Your first consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we recover money. Results depend on the facts of each case.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an employment lawyer cost for a first consultation?

At Kingsley Szamet, nothing. Your first consultation is free, and you owe no fee unless we recover money. Other firms charge for consultations, so ask before you book.

How much does a discrimination lawyer cost?

Most discrimination lawyers who represent employees work on contingency. That means no fee upfront and a percentage of what you recover. Ask about case costs and when the percentage changes.

What is an employment lawyer contingency fee?

It's a fee based on the outcome of your case. The lawyer takes an agreed percentage of your settlement or verdict, and you owe no fee if you don't recover money.

Do no win no fee employment lawyers charge anything if I lose?

You don't owe a fee. Some agreements still make you pay case costs, such as filing fees or experts, so read that part of the agreement closely.

How much does a wrongful termination lawyer cost?

It usually works the same way as other employee claims. You pay no fee upfront, and the lawyer is paid from any settlement or verdict.

How long does an employment lawsuit take?

Some cases settle in a few months. If a case goes to court, litigation often takes one to two years. An appeal adds at least another year.

Contact Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers

Call (818) 990-8300 to talk about your case. You can also schedule a free consultation online. We're at 16133 Ventura Blvd #1200, Encino, CA 91436, and we represent employees across California. This page gives general information. It isn't legal advice for your situation.