Free template
Contingency Fee Agreement Template (Free, Attorney-Drafted)
Generate a state-specific, ABA-compliant contingency fee agreement tailored to your firm and case in under a minute.
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PreviewWhat you'll get
Contingency Fee Agreement
This Agreement is entered into between Hartwell Injury Law, PLLC (the "Firm") and the undersigned client (the "Client") concerning the Client's claim for personal injury arising from a motor vehicle collision.
2. Fee. The Firm shall receive 33.33% of any gross recovery obtained before the filing of a lawsuit, and 40% of any gross recovery obtained after suit is filed.
3. Costs. The Firm will advance reasonable case costs, which shall be reimbursed from the Client's share of any recovery after the contingency fee is calculated.
Drafting a defensible fee agreement is one of the highest-leverage tasks in a plaintiff-side practice. A poorly worded contingency clause can trigger fee disputes, bar grievances, or unenforceable liens.
This contingency fee agreement template generator produces a state-aware, ABA Model Rule 1.5(c) compliant draft you can refine with your client. Enter your firm details, case type, percentage tiers, and cost handling rules, and receive a polished agreement ready for partner review.
Use it as a starting point for personal injury, employment, or commercial contingency matters. Always have a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction review before signing.
Why use itBuilt for the way law firms actually work
ABA Rule 1.5(c) Compliant
Structured to satisfy the written-agreement and signed-statement requirements of ABA Model Rule 1.5(c).
Jurisdiction-Aware Language
Adjusts governing law and cost-handling defaults based on the state you select.
Case-Type Specific Scope
Tailors scope of representation language for PI, employment, malpractice, and commercial matters.
Editable HTML Output
Receive clean HTML you can paste into Word, Clio, or your document management system instantly.
100% Free
No signup, no credit card, no email gate. Generate as many drafts as your practice needs.
Attorney-Reviewed Structure
Reviewed by the caseledge editorial team against current ABA and state bar fee-agreement guidance.
ProcessHow it works
- 01 Enter your firm and matter details
Provide the firm name, governing state, case type, and your preferred fee and cost structure.
- 02 Generate the draft agreement
Our model assembles a state-aware contingency fee agreement using your inputs and ABA-aligned defaults.
- 03 Review and customize
Copy the HTML into your document system, adjust clauses, and route for partner and client review.
- 04 Execute with your client
Have the agreement signed in writing as required by ABA Model Rule 1.5(c) before commencing work.
CoverageWhat's included
- Parties, engagement, and scope of representation
- Tiered contingency fee percentage language
- Costs and expenses handling clause
- Settlement authority and client consent terms
- Termination, withdrawal, and quantum meruit
- File retention and post-matter obligations
- Governing law and dispute resolution
- Signature blocks and execution disclaimer
ContextWhy this matters
Contingency fees are tightly regulated. ABA Model Rule 1.5(c) requires that every contingency arrangement be in writing, signed by the client, and that the method of calculating the fee, including how expenses are handled, be clearly disclosed. Failure to comply can render the fee unenforceable and expose the lawyer to discipline.
Several states layer additional requirements on top of the ABA baseline. New York imposes specific schedules for medical malpractice cases under 22 NYCRR 806.27 and requires a closing statement filed with the Office of Court Administration. Florida limits contingency percentages in personal injury matters under Rule 4-1.5(f)(4)(B) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar and requires a separate client statement. California requires written contingency agreements under Business and Professions Code section 6147, including a notice that the fee is negotiable.
A clean, well-drafted template reduces the risk of fee disputes, which the ABA Standing Committee on Client Protection identifies as one of the most common sources of bar complaints against plaintiffs' attorneys.
Q&AFrequently asked
- A contingency fee agreement is a written contract in which a lawyer's fee is calculated as a percentage of any recovery obtained for the client. If there is no recovery, the lawyer collects no fee. ABA Model Rule 1.5(c) requires these agreements to be in writing and signed by the client.
- Yes. The template generator is completely free, with no signup, email gate, or paywall. You can generate as many drafts as you need for your practice.
- It is built for US-licensed attorneys, primarily solo practitioners and small firms handling personal injury, employment, malpractice, or commercial contingency matters. Non-lawyers should not use this template to self-represent.
- The output is tailored to the state you select, the case type you handle, and your specific fee and cost structure. It is also structured around ABA Model Rule 1.5(c) requirements rather than a one-size-fits-all template.
- Contingency agreements are used when the client cannot or will not pay hourly and the matter has a quantifiable monetary recovery. They are standard in plaintiff-side personal injury and employment work, but inappropriate in domestic relations and most criminal matters under ABA Rule 1.5(d).
- No. This generator produces a starting draft, not legal advice. Every output should be reviewed by a licensed attorney in the relevant jurisdiction to confirm it complies with local rules of professional conduct and any state-specific schedules or disclosures.
- The most common errors are failing to specify whether costs are deducted before or after the fee, omitting required state-specific disclosures, using vague scope language, and not addressing what happens if the client terminates the representation mid-case.
- Paste the HTML into your document management or practice management system, customize the firm-specific details, route it through your standard conflicts and partner review process, and have the client sign before commencing substantive work on the matter.