Contingency Fee

Introduction

I.  History of the contingency fee

A. General definition
B. Difference between the contingency fee and champerty and maintenance
C. Examples from early cases

II. Contingency fee usage
 
A. Personal injury

1. Case examples
2. Attorney statements

B. Collection

1. Case examples
2. Attorney statements

C. Estates

1. Case examples
2. Attorney statements

III. Support and criticism of the contingency fee, yesterday and today

A. Access to the legal system

1. Examples
 
B. Professional responsibility issues and ethical considerations

1. Statutory examples
2. Case examples

IV. Use of the contingency fee in a law practice (Based upon attorney interviews and printed sources)
 
A. Type of work

1. Personal injury
2. Collection
3. Estates

B. Attorney/Client contract format

1. Examples in appendix

C. How the contingency fee figures into salary

V. Future of the Contingency Fee

A. Author’s perceptions

Conclusion