No win, no fee employment lawyers in Washington State can help their clients with many different types of issues at work, including harassment, non-payment of earnings, discrimination, and many other employment law issues. When someone hires a no win, no fee attorney, it means that they will not have to pay any attorney’s fees unless the lawyer wins their case.
If their lawyer does win, they will pay them a portion of their settlement or award as their fee, which is typically a pre-negotiated percentage. This means, whenever someone thinks they cannot afford to resolve their employment issue, they may be in luck.
There are numerous member attorneys at LegalMatch that use no win, no fee arrangements and are ready to help with employment law claims. It is free to submit an employment law question or legal issue on the LegalMatch website to look for a lawyer who offers a no win, no fee arrangement.
Using LegalMatch, an individual can schedule a legal consultation in Washington State to find out more about the next steps they can take to resolve their employment law concerns.
What Does “No Win, No Fee” Mean?
No win, no fee in Washington State means that a lawyer does not receive their fees unless they win a case and their client collects funds. This is referred to as being paid on a contingency fee basis.
Being paid on a contingency fee basis means that an attorney receives a percentage of a settlement or damages award at the conclusion of a case, instead of being paid throughout the case at an hourly rate or at the start of the case with a flat rate.
With a no win, no fee arrangement, the employment attorney agrees to take on their client’s case without charging them an hourly fee. In exchange for this arrangement, the attorney is paid a percentage of the damages amount that is awarded to the client.
Contingency fee arrangements can be very helpful in cases where clients do not have access to a lot of money but they have a complex or costly employment law issue. Lawyers will often accept cases that show clear liability and a way to collect a settlement, for example, through an insurance policy.
Even though the lawyer will not receive their payment until the case is concluded and won, a client may still have to pay certain up-front legal fees related to the case work, which can include:
- Court filing fees
- Expert witness fees
- Discovery costs
- Overhead fees needed to keep the case going forward
There are certain advantages that contingency fee arrangements offer clients, such as not paying the lawyer up front, not paying for losses, and their lawyer having great incentive to work hard and win the case. The process also allows the case to progress without accumulating large legal bills, which can help individuals who have lower income access legal help.
A contingency fee arrangement gives a lawyer motivation to do all they can to produce the best outcome in the case because contingency lawyers will not be paid unless they win the case.
How Much Is the Fee?
Depending on the laws of a state as well as the details of a specific contingency fee arrangement, the fee can be anywhere from five percent to 50% of the final award amount. As noted above, however, if the case is lost, the lawyer will not be paid anything.
This means that the lawyer will only receive the agreed-upon percentage if the case is won or the client receives a settlement amount. It can be comforting to a client to know that an employer lawyer would not likely accept a no win, no fee case if they were not confident that they could win because they are motivated to earn a paycheck.
In the State of Washington, specifically, employment law contingency fee case fees often range from 30 to 40%. If a case is complex, it may reach 45%.
It is common for the fee percentage to be one-third, or 33.3%. The specific percentage is typically included in a written agreement that is signed at the time a client hires their employment lawyer.
This agreement should also include information about other costs the client may be required to pay, such as deposition costs, court filing fees, and other fees.
What Types of Employment Cases Use “No Win, No Fee” Fees?
In Washington State, no win, no fee arrangements are commonly used in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. Lawyers may also accept cases on a no win, no fee basis in other areas, such as:
- Wage dispute cases
- Bankruptcy
- Class action lawsuits
- Debt collections cases
- Professional malpractice
- Sexual harassment
- Personal injury
- Employment discrimination
Washington state lawyers can provide more information about what cases they take on a no win, no fee basis.
Employment Law in Washington State
Washington state employment laws cover a broad range of legal issues related to employer, employees, and safety conditions in the workplace. Some employment laws govern employment discrimination and other laws provide guidance for drafting company policies and employee handbooks.
Employment laws are meant to protect everyone who is part of the workforce, which is done by:
- Establishing protections for employees who have a dispute against:
- colleagues
- employers
- companies
- Ensuring businesses do not discriminate against job candidates or current employees during any of the following:
- interviewing
- hiring
- firing
- promoting
- termination
- Granting rights to self-employed individuals, or independent contractors
- Ensuring that interns and volunteers do not endure:
- sexual harassment
- Retaliation
- discrimination in the workplace
It is important to be aware that employment laws vary by state, so protections provided in another state may not be provided in Washington state. This means that it is very important to consult with an employment lawyer.
What Do Employment Lawyers Do in Washington State?
Employment lawyers in Washington State handle cases involving employment law issues, representing both employers and employees. This can include ensuring employers are in compliance with the many laws that apply to workplaces and that employees are treated fairly and consistently.
Employment lawyers can help employees understand their rights and help if they were violated. Employment lawyers can also help draft and review employment handbooks, handle wage law issues, and represent parties in filing claims with and appearing before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Other Types of Employment Lawyer Fee Arrangements in Washington State
There are other fee schedules used by employment lawyers in Washington State, including hourly rates and flat fees. Hourly fees are often used in employment law cases, where the lawyer charges based on the number of hours they spend working on the case.
A flat fee may be used if the case is simple or only one task is being handled, for example, reviewing a contract or employee handbook.
How Much Does an Employment Lawyer Cost in Washington State?
In general, an employment lawyer cost in Washington State will vary depending on the fee arrangement used. Hourly rates often range between $200 and $400 for general work.
For flat fee work, such as contract reviews, a client may pay between $400 to $950. For a no win, no fee arrangement, a client may pay between 30 to 50% of their winnings.
Do I Need To Hire a Washington State Employment Law Attorney?
Having an employment law issue can be very stressful and you may be thinking I do not have the funds for this and I do not want to risk my employment to hire a Washington state employment lawyer. Not to worry, it does not cost anything to use the lawyer-client matching services provided by LegalMatch to find an employment lawyer in your area of Washington State who offers no win, no fee arrangements.
Many of these attorneys also offer free initial consultations, which means you can potentially get different evaluations of the possible success of your claim, all for free. Having issues at work is often very stressful, so get started today using the free lawyer matching services provided by LegalMatch to find a no win, no fee lawyer in your area of Washington State.
