Fee Models Explained

Legal fees come in different shapes. Some look safe at first glance but hide risks later. Others work only in limited situations.

This page gives you a side-by-side view of the most common fee models.

So you can see:

  • Who controls the cost

  • What risks to watch for

  • Who each model suits best

Model Who controls the cost? Hidden risks Who it works best for
No win, no fee The lawyer Extra success fees; liability for disbursements & opponent costs Money claims with strong prospects (injury, consumer, estate, class actions)
Free legal help (pro bono) The lawyer Limited scope; may end anytime; no continuity People with no or very few assets
Direct fixed-fee The lawyer Extra work outside scope may attract new fees; no second opinion Routine tasks like wills or leases
Clean Law You Fixed fees held in escrow; no referral fees; independent oversight People with something at stake — home, business, or peace of mind

This table is also shown on our homepage - we repeat it here so you can compare models in one place.

For each of these models, regulators and courts have warned about hidden risks. We’ve gathered examples and official consumer fact sheets in the Resources section - so you can see what independent experts say, not just us.