{"id":368913,"date":"2022-06-17T10:41:27","date_gmt":"2022-06-17T15:41:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-for-legal-fees.html"},"modified":"2026-06-15T11:04:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T16:04:23","slug":"can-i-sue-for-legal-fees","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-for-legal-fees.html","title":{"rendered":"Can I Sue for Legal Fees?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">Can I Sue for Legal Fees?<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/steven-ellison-esq\/\">Steven Ellison, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            June 15, 2026\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>Yes, in some situations you can sue to recover your attorney fees in a lawsuit. You may recover legal fees as a plaintiff or a defendant. Getting legal fees can save you a lot of money, especially in a long or complex lawsuit.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many costs during a typical lawsuit. Expenses usually include filing fees that courts charge to process your case. A big expense is the cost of hiring a lawyer to argue your case, explore settlement options, and give you advice. These various lawsuit fees add up.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes, you can get help with these costs, especially if you win your case. If you want to know more about recovering legal fees covered as part of your lawsuit, you may want to <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get legal advice<\/a> from an experienced attorney.<\/p>\n<p>Find answers to the questions below:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#who-pays\">Who pays legal fees?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cost\">How much does suing someone cost?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#suing\">When can I sue for legal fees?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#bad-faith\">Who pays in bad faith lawsuits?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#recovery\">How much of my legal fees are recoverable?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a id=\"who-pays\"><\/a>Who Pays Legal Fees?<\/h2>\n<p>In the American legal system, each side is often\u00a0responsible for paying for their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/attorneys-and-fees.html\">legal fees<\/a>, which is known as the American rule. In other words, if you hire a lawyer to represent you in a lawsuit, you will have to pay your own attorney fees, expenses, and court costs.<\/p>\n<p>There are exceptions to the American rule, however, where you may be able to persuade a court to order the other side to pay your legal fees.<\/p>\n<h3>Fee Shifting Laws<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/strategist\/fee-shifting-statutes-what-to-know-how-they-can-help-clients-pay\/\">Fee-shifting laws<\/a>\u00a0may require the losing side to pay your fees and expenses in some types of cases. State and federal statutes may include these loser-pays types of rules to help people who may be at a financial disadvantage or to punish bad behavior, like in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/enforcing-your-civil-rights\/filing-civil-rights-claims.html\">civil rights<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/legal-help-and-resources\/-can-i-sue-my-employer-.html\">workers&#8217; rights<\/a> cases.<\/p>\n<p>Fee-shifting laws encourage people to think carefully before suing someone. Not only might you pay your own fees to get started, but you might also have to take on the burden of the other side&#8217;s costs in the end. Plaintiffs should consider the merits of their claim and their likelihood of winning.<\/p>\n<h3>Contractual Agreements<\/h3>\n<p>Some contracts have provisions that cover who pays the legal fees if a dispute comes up. This is common in business contracts where an attorney-fee provision says that if there is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-contracts-forms\/breach-of-contract-and-lawsuits.html\">breach of contract<\/a>, the other side can get an award of attorney fees. If you have a contract with an attorney-fee clause, you may be able to get the other side to pay the expenses of taking the case to court.<\/p>\n<h3>Public Defender<\/h3>\n<p>If you are charged with a crime and do not have the money to pay for a lawyer, a public defender may be appointed for you, so you won&#8217;t be required to pay legal fees. Defendants are notified of this right in one of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-rights\/miranda-rights-and-the-fifth-amendment.html\">Miranda warnings<\/a>\u00a0that many people are familiar with.<\/p>\n<p>However, not just anyone gets a free lawyer. To qualify for a free lawyer, you typically have to show that you don&#8217;t have enough income or assets.<\/p>\n<h3>Legal Aid<\/h3>\n<p>If you are represented by a free legal service, then you may not have to pay for a lawyer. Legal aid services, legal clinics, non-profits, and some law firms provide legal help without charge. Providing free legal service is known as pro bono.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/strategist\/you-know-about-pro-bono-what-about-low-bono\/\">Pro bono service<\/a>\u00a0can include representing people who qualify as low-income, elderly, disabled, immigrants, and juveniles.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"cost\"><\/a>How Much Does Suing Someone Cost?<\/h2>\n<p>The cost depends on the complexity of the lawsuit. Your costs will also vary based on where you file (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/personal-jurisdiction-how-to-determine-where-a-person-can-be.html\">jurisdiction<\/a>), who you hire to represent you, and the unique needs of your case. What you ultimately pay or recover also depends on how the court rules.<\/p>\n<p>Simple cases over a small amount of money are generally cheaper. These cases best suit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/small-claims-court.html\">small claims court<\/a>. The plaintiff often pays court filing fees of up to a few hundred dollars.\u00a0You usually don&#8217;t need a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/do-i-need-a-lawyer-for-small-claims-court-.html\">lawyer for small claims<\/a>. Some states don&#8217;t even allow you to have attorney representation in a small claims courtroom, so parties might not have any attorney&#8217;s fees. If the parties did choose to get legal counseling outside of court, the American rule would generally apply.<\/p>\n<p>More advanced litigation can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/attorney-fees-and-agreements\/legal-fees.html\">overall legal costs<\/a>. These cases vary widely. An attorney can offer you a personalized estimate of the time and expenses before you commit to suing. They can also explain the probability of winning compensation for these costs.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"suing\"><\/a>When Can I Sue For Legal Fees?<\/h2>\n<p>Suing for legal fees is common in many lawsuits. But seeking recovery of your legal fees doesn&#8217;t guarantee that the judge will give them to you. This decision is based on the circumstances of the case.<\/p>\n<h3>You Win Your Claim as the Prevailing Party<\/h3>\n<p>Some states have laws that require the party that loses a lawsuit to pay the winning side&#8217;s legal fees in certain cases. These are called prevailing party provisions.<\/p>\n<p>State and federal laws that may include covering the prevailing party&#8217;s legal fees include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/how-to-report-wage-and-hour-violations.html\">Wage and labor violation lawsuits<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/discrimination.html\">Anti-discrimination lawsuits<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer.html\">Consumer protection claims<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/choosing-the-right-lawyer\/landlord-tenant-law.html\">Landlord-tenant disputes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/business-laws-and-regulations\/environmental-laws.html\">Environmental protection claims<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Judge Agrees To Award Legal Fees<\/h3>\n<p>If you have the right to recover fees and expenses as the winning party in a lawsuit, the judge may consider several factors in deciding whether to award reasonable attorneys&#8217; fees or not.<\/p>\n<p>Factors the judge will look at could include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The conduct of each party<\/li>\n<li>Whether the lawsuit was made in bad faith<\/li>\n<li>Whether the claims and defenses asserted in the lawsuit were reasonable<\/li>\n<li>Whether the losing party deserves to be punished for bad behavior<\/li>\n<li>Whether the losing party or others should be deterred from similar behavior in the future<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>If I&#8217;m the Defendant, Can I Still Recover My Legal Fees?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, it&#8217;s possible to countersue for legal fees if someone sues you. Under the prevailing party rule, your successful defense could mean that the plaintiff must pay for your costs. The same factors described above would apply.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"bad-faith\"><\/a>Who Pays in Bad Faith Lawsuits?<\/h2>\n<p>Another exception to the American rule applies when someone files a bad faith lawsuit against you. Bad faith may involve maliciously filing a lawsuit to harass the defendant. Alternatively, <a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/frivolous.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">frivolous<\/a> lawsuits include claims without a factual or legal basis. In either type of case, the plaintiff caused the defendant to waste time and money unnecessarily.<\/p>\n<p>In some cases, the judge might <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/what-is-a-motion-to-dismiss.html\">dismiss the lawsuit<\/a>. As part of the dismissal, they might require the plaintiff to pay your legal fees up to that point. The risk of this penalty can help discourage people from filing frivolous or invalid lawsuits.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"recovery\"><\/a>How Much of My Legal Fees Are Recoverable?<\/h2>\n<p>If you win your lawsuit, the judge could make the opposing party pay all, some, or none of your legal fees. Depending on your case, you may still have to pay the remaining legal costs, such as court filing costs, even if you win.<\/p>\n<p>Lawyers may use\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/attorney-fees-and-agreements\/types-of-legal-fees.html\">different types of fee agreements<\/a>, depending on the nature of the case and representation, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hourly rates<\/li>\n<li>Flat fees<\/li>\n<li>Set fees or statutory fees<\/li>\n<li>Contingency fees<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Hourly Attorney Fees<\/h3>\n<p>Many lawyers charge by the hour for work done. Your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/hirealawyer\/attorney-fees-and-agreements\/how-much-will-it-cost-to-hire-a-lawyer.html\">fee agreement<\/a>\u00a0will show how much the lawyer is charging for their time, which could be anywhere from $100 an hour to $500 an hour, or more. The fee charged often\u00a0depends on the type of legal issue, region, reputation, and experience of the lawyer. In addition to your attorneys&#8217; fees, you will still have to pay your legal expenses and court costs.<\/p>\n<h3>Flat Fee<\/h3>\n<p>A flat fee agreement means that your lawyer charges a flat rate for services. This fee structure is\u00a0used in simpler legal cases\u00a0like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/traffic\/traffic-tickets.html\">fighting a traffic ticket<\/a>, making a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/wills.html\">simple will<\/a>, or handling an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/divorce\/uncontested-divorce.html\">uncontested divorce<\/a>. A flat fee arrangement may not cover any complications that come up, and you may have to pay more for additional services if the nature or complexity of the case changes during the course of representation.<\/p>\n<h3>Contingency Fee Agreements<\/h3>\n<p>A\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/corporate.findlaw.com\/litigation-disputes\/what-is-a-contingent-fee.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contingency fee<\/a>\u00a0means that the lawyer is paid if you win or settle your court case. If the lawyer loses your case, then you may not have to pay a fee. This kind of fee structure is common in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/injury\/accident-injury-law\/personal-injury-law-the-basics.html\">personal injury<\/a>\u00a0and medical malpractice cases, where your lawyer will get a percentage of any award or settlement you receive. Make sure you understand the fee arrangement before you sign anything because many contingency fee agreements still require you to pay expenses and court costs if you lose.<\/p>\n<h2>If You Want To Sue For Legal Fees, Talk to a Lawyer<\/h2>\n<p>Hiring a lawyer can be expensive, but you may not have to pay if you win your case. This is something to consider before deciding to give up your claim or trying to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/going-to-court\/should-you-represent-yourself-in-court.html\">represent yourself<\/a> in court.<\/p>\n<p>Shifting legal fees may not be available in all types of lawsuits. Make sure you understand the attorney fee agreement before hiring a lawyer. Talk to a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">lawyer in your area<\/a>\u00a0about your case and find out if there are ways you can sue for legal fees so you don&#8217;t have to pay them.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" 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