Are you looking for alternative fee arrangements? ClearWay Law was created to innovate the legal industry. We saw that law firms are way behind other industries that have embraced innovation.

Uber has recently changed the taxi industry.

Airbnb has changed the hotel industry.

ClearWay Law is building the infrastructure of the future of law firms.

How it works

Alternative Fee Arrangements are innovative pricing models for legal services that depart from the conventional hourly billing approach. AFAs offer clients and lawyers more flexible and inventive billing methods that aim to foster a mutually beneficial relationship.

One popular form is the fixed fee, where a lawyer commits to completing a defined task or project for a pre-agreed amount, regardless of the actual hours worked. This approach ensures clients know the cost of the project upfront and motivates lawyers to work more productively.

Alternative Fee Arrangements

Another is the contingency fee, where the lawyer’s compensation is based on a percentage of the recovery in a lawsuit or settlement. This is a useful option for clients with limited financial resources who do not wish to pay for legal services upfront. They only pay if they win their case.

Value billing is a further AFA that charges clients based on the value that the lawyer provides to the case, rather than time spent. This billing method encourages lawyers to find effective solutions to legal problems and helps align their interests with those of the client.

AFAs provide a more flexible and inventive billing solution for legal services, helping to foster a collaborative relationship between lawyers and clients. Whether it’s a fixed fee, contingency fee, or value billing, AFAs provide clients with certainty about the cost of legal services and minimize the risk of disputes over fees.

The main ways that lawyers typically charge for their services

Lawyers charge their clients in a variety of ways, but three of the most common methods are hourly billing, contingency fees, and flat or fixed fees. Hourly billing involves charging the client based on the number of hours the lawyer spends on a case or project, typically tracked in increments such as six-minute or 15-minute intervals.

Contingency fees are a percentage of the recovery in a lawsuit or settlement, where the client pays only if the case is successful. Flat or fixed fees are a pre-agreed amount for a specific legal task or project, regardless of the actual time spent.

This method provides clients with certainty about the cost of legal services and incentivizes lawyers to work efficiently. In addition, there are other alternative fee arrangements, such as value billing, where the client is charged based on the value the lawyer provides to the case.

What does EBO stand for in legal billing?

The billing method called EBO, which stands for “Expected Benefit Outcome,” is used by some lawyers to charge their clients based on the estimated outcome of a case or project.

This approach differs from the traditional hourly billing method and encourages lawyers to work more efficiently and effectively to deliver the desired outcome for their clients.

By using Expected Benefit Outcome billing, lawyers and clients agree on the expected outcome of a case or project and the lawyer is paid based on their performance in achieving it.

This helps to foster a more collaborative relationship between the two parties and provides clients with greater certainty about the cost of legal services while reducing the risk of disputes over fees.

EBO billing offers a flexible and creative solution to billing for legal services, but it is important for lawyers and clients to carefully consider the expected outcome and associated fees before entering into such an arrangement. Furthermore, lawyers must maintain their ethical obligations to their clients, regardless of the billing method used.

Business Models

The future of law is biological rather than mechanical. We plan to grow organically into different areas of law and different cities. Also, we will continue to research emerging areas of technology (artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency).

We will implement these technologies once we know they are safe.

The two largest issues with law firms today are:

1. The way that law firms charge clients
2. Poor communication between lawyers and clients

Alternative Billing rewards results, not the number of hours the lawyers and paralegals spend on a case. Anything that increases efficiency in the legal industry is a good thing for the family law industry.

The legal industry is over 1,000 years old, and it is time for a change.

Alternative Fee Arrangements For Professional Services

My family law firm decided to take upon ourselves the large task of creating an innovative law firm. It’s not easy to do. I looked at other Canadian law firms’ websites to see if any other law firms were innovative. I only found two other law firms.

We did research into what family law clients were looking for and the common sources of conflicts between family lawyers and clients. We found that the most common sources of conflict between lawyers and clients are: billing and communication.

This article addresses alternative billing structures that clients may feel more comfortable with.

The Practice Of Law

I am still working on a solution to address the issues around the lack of communication between lawyers and clients. I believe that there would have to be a special law firm app designed. If any app companies are reading this article, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss this.

The two most common forms of alternative billing in law firms are contingency fees and flat-fee billing.

Contingency agreements are great for clients who “cannot afford justice.” If a homeless person gets hit by a car, there is no chance that they can afford a $ 5,000 retainer and a $350/hour bill. So what should they do?

The Legal Market In Canada

Most personal injury law firms offer contingency fees which are most commonly advertised as “no win, no fee.” As such, no retainer is required if the client does not cancel the contingency agreement.

Most contingency agreements say that if the lawyer leaves the case, the client only needs to pay disbursements. If the client leaves the case, the client must pay the hourly rate retroactively.

Alternative Fee Arrangements

Even those that can afford to pay a lawyer’s retainer, may be concerned about the risk of losing the trial after investing tens of thousands into litigation. To add to the risk, if they lose they may have to pay the other parties’ costs.

Under a contingency agreement, the client only pays his lawyer a percentage of the award of the settlement or judgment. The percentage the lawyer receives is often between 20-33%.

The managing partner often determines the percentage depending on how much they believe the settlement or judgment is worth. Also, the risk of no settlement or judgment is often considered.

The percentage can be higher than 33% if both the client and the courts agree. This is extremely rare.

How Legal Work Is Charged

Contingent fee agreements in family law are not permitted in Ontario. In British Columbia, the family lawyer must apply to the courts for approval to use a contingency fee in family law.

Continency agreements relating to child custody or other child matters are void anywhere in Canada.

Contingency fees are often used in personal injury law. It is rarely used in family law.

I believe the reason it is not often used in family law is that clients hate it when you take a percentage of their assets, especially their family home.

This leads to potential disputes between the family law firm and the client.

The courts have the power to overturn contingency agreements and to order hourly billing to be billed instead.

Flat Fees

Clients are very nervous about litigation that may go on for years. Some lawyers estimate that a trial in a family court can easily cost you $150,000.

Even if your family law trial only goes on for three days, it may put you back $60,000.

I have seen some law firms that charge 3% for disbursements. Most law firms charge for each fax or phone call made. This can encourage wastefulness at the law firm, which hurts the environment and the client’s wallet.

How do subscription legal services work?

Subscription legal services provide clients with a comprehensive set of legal services for a fixed monthly or annual fee. This fee-based model is designed to offer affordable, accessible, and convenient legal support to individuals and small businesses that require routine legal assistance.

The range of services covered by the subscription fee may differ among providers but can encompass a spectrum of legal services, including legal advice, document preparation, and representation in selected legal matters.

By having access to these services as needed, clients can save money and enjoy peace of mind knowing that legal support is readily available.

Alternative Fee Arrangements

It’s crucial for clients to thoroughly review the services offered in a subscription legal service and understand the extent of their coverage. Some providers may provide limited representation, so it’s crucial to comprehend the nature and level of legal support provided, as well as when it may be necessary to retain a traditional lawyer.

It’s also imperative to evaluate the qualifications and experience of the lawyers providing legal services.

They can offer a cost-effective and accessible solution for those who require routine legal support. Nevertheless, it’s essential to review the services offered and comprehend the extent of legal support provided before making a decision.