how do lawyers set a fee on casses

Most lawyers are compensated on an hourly basis and paid monthly. We charge $300.00 per hour and send out bills at the end of each month on a calendar month basis. Some lawyers charge a little less. Many charge more.   Personal injury cases are commonly compensated on a contingent fee basis. The lawyer only gets paid when a judgment or settlement is collected. One fairly typical such arrangement is 20% if the case can be settled without filing a lawsuit, 25% after a lawsuit is filed and served, 33% if the case is not settled until within 30 days or 60 days before trial, and as much as 40% if the case is tried to a verdict.   Many services which the attorney does over-and-over might be charged at a fixed rate. Drunk driving defense where the case is going to result in a plea bargain and not go to trial, typically cost $2500.00 -$5000.00. I write revocable living trusts and set up corporations and limited liability companies for a flat fee of $1500.00. I believe patent lawyers often quote fixed fees for filing patent and trademark applications.   In California, all attorney fees are negotiable. There are no laws or rules fixing fees. You can always make some other arrangement with the attorney.   Good luck.   Dana