ATTORNEY FEES

The amounts paid to a lawyer for legal services provided, which can occur in several different forms: (i) hourly, (ii) per job or per diem, (iii) on contingency (the lawyer charges nothing and obtains a percentage of any money won for the client) and (iv) a retainer (the up front amount deposited usually as part of an hourly or per job fee agreement). Attorney fees are generally paid by the client although there are times when the prevailing party will also win the costs of litigation and attorney fees will be paid by a defendant. This may be contractual or potentially awarded by the court. For example, tenants who prevail in an action for retaliation by the landlord in housing court may be awarded attorney fees against the landlord.