Costs and legal fees

A lawsuit in court can become expensive very quickly. Hiring an attorney early on will help you avoid frustration and save costs.

After you have explained your problem, ask for an estimate of the fees and costs anticipated for attorneys services. You will have to remunerate for the attorneys efforts, including the initial consultation. The payment is subject to the value-added tax, which will be charged in addition.

Should disagreements about the attorneys fees ever arise, you can petition for a review of the invoice by the Commission on Legal Fees of the Zurich Bar Association. However, the Commission on Legal Fees is not authorized to review the quality of the attorneys work.

A party without means is entitled to petition for free legal representation in connection with a pending court proceeding. The prerequisites are that the party must be an indigent person who needs an attorney to manage the litigation and that the litigation is not hopeless. If the party gains assets due to the outcome of the litigation or in other ways, a retroactive payment obligation is established.

An agreement on legal fees is to be reached directly with your attorney. The applicable hourly rates may differ from firm to firm, and are based on factors such as the complexity of the issues raised; particular expertise, the significance of the case or amount in dispute, particular language skills and demonstrated legal experience. Secretarial support is generally included in the legal fees. Expenses are charged either on an as-spent basis or as a flat percentage of the legal fees.

The agreement on a flat fee for a task defined in advance is also possible.