Many lawyers charge an hourly rate for their services, but there are other types of fees, including "fixed" or "flat fees" for a particular service, and contingent fees. The fee can vary depending upon the circumstances of the case and the experience of the lawyer. A lawyer must consider a number of elements in computing a fee:

The most important is the amount of time the lawyer spends doing work for you. Most lawyers who charge by the hour have a minimum billing time of 1/10 to 1/25 of an hour. You will be charged for all the time the lawyer actually spends working on your case, including research, writing, and phone calls made to discuss you legal matter. Many lawyers will charge a separate hourly rate for work performed by the lawyer’s staff.

Ability, experience and reputation are natural considerations in setting a fee. You should expect to pay a higher hourly rate for a lawyer whose expertise in a specific area of the law is in demand.