Contingency Fee Calculator: Attorney Cut and Net to Client
Work out the lawyer's contingency fee on a settlement and the net amount the client takes home — the standard fee structure in personal injury, employment, and other plaintiff-side litigation.
Adjust the inputs and select Calculate for a full breakdown.
Compare Common Scenarios
How the numbers shift across typical situations for this calculator:
| Scenario | Lawyer's contingency fee | Net to client |
|---|---|---|
| 33% of $300k | 99,000 | 201,000 |
| 40% of $1M | 400,000 | 600,000 |
| 33% of $50k | 16,500 | 33,500 |
| 45% of $2M (appeal) | 900,000 | 1,100,000 |
How This Calculator Works
Enter the gross settlement and the contingency rate. The calculator multiplies the two to give the lawyer's fee and shows the net to the client. Case costs (filing fees, expert witnesses, deposition transcripts) are typically deducted in addition to the percentage — confirm your specific fee agreement.
The Formula
Percentage of an Amount
Amount is the base value, Percentage is the rate applied to it
Worked Example
On a $300,000 settlement at the standard 33% contingency, the lawyer's fee is $99,000 and the client nets $201,000 before case costs. If case costs were $15,000, the actual client take is $186,000. Many agreements also escalate to 40% if the case is filed and 45% if it goes to appeal.
Key Insight
Contingency fees solve an access-to-justice problem: most plaintiffs cannot afford hourly legal bills, so the lawyer takes the risk in exchange for a share. The structure aligns incentives but isn't free — a 33% contingency on a quickly settled case can compute to an effective hourly rate of $2,000+, which is why some matters are better handled on flat fee or hybrid agreements when budgets allow.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a contingency fee?
A fee structure where the lawyer is paid only if the case wins or settles, taking a percentage of the recovery instead of hourly fees. Standard in personal injury, employment, civil rights, and many plaintiff-side cases.
What is a typical contingency rate?
US norms: 33% if settled before lawsuit filing, 40% after filing, 45% after appeal. Some states cap rates by case type (medical malpractice often capped at lower percentages); some specialty matters charge less.
Are case costs separate from the contingency?
Usually yes. Filing fees, expert witnesses, deposition transcripts, and exhibits are charged on top of the percentage. Some agreements advance these costs and recoup them from the settlement; others bill the client as incurred.
Can contingency rates be negotiated?
Sometimes — particularly for large cases or strong matters. Many firms hold to a standard rate; some compete on contingency rate for high-value clients. Always ask before signing the retainer agreement.
Is the contingency fee taxable?
For the lawyer, yes — as income. For the client, the gross settlement is what determines tax (not the net after lawyer fee) in many cases, which can produce surprising tax bills on portions of the recovery the client never received.
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Methodology & Review
The contingency fee is the gross settlement multiplied by the contingency rate; the remainder is the client's share before case costs. Most contingency agreements deduct case costs (filing fees, expert witnesses, deposition transcripts) on top of the percentage — fold those into the gross figure if you want a net-of-costs result.
Written by Ugo Candido · Last updated May 17, 2026.