Overview of Contingency Fees - Attorneys Who Only Get Paid If They Win

A contingency fee means that an attorney agrees to take on a case without charging any up front or hourly fee. In exchange for working for free and taking the risk that a recovery will be made, the lawyer receives a percentage of what is recovered when the case is over. While lawyers in every state handle some cases on a contingency basis, this article specifically provides an overview of cases Illinois attorneys can handle on the basis of they only get paid if they win.

In Illinois, contingency fee cases are most commonly found in injury cases like workers compensation, personal injury, medical malpractice and nursing home abuse. There are occasionally small fees to obtain medical records in a malpractice case. Other cases include legal malpractice and class actions. Illinois legal malpractice cases attorneys will want to see financial damages as a result of an attorney's unprofessional conduct that would make it financially worthwhile. For example, if a divorce attorney's misconduct resulted in less than desirable visitation, a lawyer will probably not take the case on a contingency basis. However, if as a result of a divorce lawyer's unprofessional conduct the client losses 0,000 from the ex's pension, a legal malpractice attorney may take the case on a contingency basis. In class action cases, attorneys work on a contingency basis because so many people have been wronged that if the lawyer wins the damages awarded will be substantial to compensate all of the clients. The attorney will take a percentage of the damages awarded to compensate for the work.

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Other cases that are sometimes, but now always done on a contingency basis include challenges to a will, commercial litigation, overtime or compensation cases from employment law, collections (if the amount owed is enough) and some child support cases. When challenging a will in Illinois, a lawyer can work on a contingency if there is a real dispute. Illinois law prevents them from taking a percentage of what is recovered if it is just normal representation of an estate. In employment law and overtime cases, lawyers will work on a contingency basis if the dollar amounts owed are large enough. For example, if a client is missing one paycheck a lawyer will probably not take the case on a contingency basis. In child support cases, it is rare to find a lawyer to work on a contingency unless there is money that can be collected.

Lawyers are prohibited from handling a divorce or criminal case on a contingency basis in Illinois. Illinois attorneys also do not handle defense of civil lawsuits on a contingency basis because there would be no way to get paid.

The fees that an Illinois lawyer charges for a contingency case depends on the type of case and risk involved. In workers' compensation claims for Illinois, the law limits the fee to 20% of any settlement. In medical malpractice cases there is a fee schedule that changes depending on how much is recovered. In most other matters, it is customary for the lawyer to recover 1/3 of the money awarded. In some cases this fee will go as high as 40% or more, especially if there is a trial and/or appeal.

Overview of Contingency Fees - Attorneys Who Only Get Paid If They Win

Michael Helfand is a Chicago attorney who helps people find lawyers in Illinois and also provides free advice. For more information on contingency fees he suggests that you visit http://www.findgreatlawyers.com/ContingencyFeeCases.htm

Michael Helfand has been an Illinois attorney since 1997 and is founder of http://www.findgreatlawyers.com/Chicago_Lawyers.htm the leading resource for Illinois lawyer referrals and legal guidance.

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An Overview of Core Asset Classes and Specialty Asset Classes

When building an investment portfolio, every investor needs to incorporate the three core holdings and, depending on the investor's risk appetite, invest marginal amounts of money in specialized asset classes. Although the specialized assets are not mandatory for a good, long-term return, it can provide added stability in a portfolio as well as enhance returns. As always, specialty assets are intended to be long term holdings.

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Briefly, the three core asset classes that investors need to own in their portfolio are:

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1. Cash. While there is nothing exotic or overly appealing about cash, it does provide the investor with flexibility to enter into attractive positions when the time is right. Depending on the risk profile of the investor and the type of investments held (e.g. mutual funds versus individual securities), cash may or may not be entirely recommended. Still, holding some assets in cash, even just 5%, is a prudent step and allows for the access to capital when one wants to enter a new position.

2. Fixed Income. Primarily taking the shape of bonds or term deposits, the fixed income component of an investor's portfolio will provide steady income. While there is some growth potential in this asset class, the primary objective is to have the portfolio infused with regular cash payments that can be rolled over into longer-term, high growth potential securities or kept in cash so that a larger use can be made of the funds at some future date in the short-term.

3. Equities. This often represents the biggest portion of an investor's portfolio as this is what drives longer-term growth. Despite the instability in the equity markets recently, equities continue to provide better returns over decades than any other asset class. Therefore, the longer one has to invest, the more money one should hold in equities. While this asset class is synonymous with growth, it can also provide income in the form of dividends.

As for the specialty asset classes, there are far too many to number here. Traditionally, most investors will add the following:

1. Income. For the income asset class, this will include high yield investments, corporate/investment grade bonds and, for the high risk bond investor, below investment-grade bonds as well.

2. Equities. Most common types of specialty equity class assets include small cap funds, real estate investments, foreign investments, European/Asian/etc. investment funds, as well as commodity based investments such as energy, minerals, gold and so on.

Clearly, there is far greater variety in the equity class, however there is also far more risk. But once an investor has properly established the core holdings of his or her portfolio, and provided that the risk tolerance supports it, branching out to these specialty classes will often make a great difference to the portfolio's overall performance.

An Overview of Core Asset Classes and Specialty Asset Classes

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Chris has more than 17 years of financial services experience. He currently manages a website about Class B CDL Jobs at Class-B-CDL-Jobs.com.

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Pilates Classes: A Beginner's Overview

Pilates classes are becoming increasingly popular as people become increasingly aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Along with a balanced diet, undertaking exercise sessions and mental health awareness processes, such as Pilates classes, can create a sense of wellbeing and general fitness. Having a healthy lifestyle can ultimately increase a person's life expectancy as well as their quality of life.

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Pilates is often confused with yoga although the two are inherently very different types of exercises. Pilates was devised by Joseph Pilates in the early twenty first century. Yoga is essentially a meditative and spiritual discipline whilst Pilates is more about strengthening a body's internal core and simultaneously developing flexibility and suppleness.

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As well as helping a person to develop a sense of mental wellbeing and increasing their physicality, Pilates classes can also assist with a range of health issues such as back problems, balance issues and poor posture. Breathing correctly forms a large part of the Pilates process; the process helps relieve stress and allows for a sense of calm and peace. This makes Pilates techniques much more manageable and achievable. For those seeking to improve their body shape, Pilates classes are the ideal solution. Resulting in a flatter stomach and increased muscle tone, Pilates is a suitable addition to a weight-loss diet and contributes to longer-looking, leaner limbs.

Pilates classes are suitable for a variety of people, both women and men; the young and old are able to benefit from Pilates classes and they are even suitable for pregnant women or have recently given birth. Pilates can really help improve a person's posture, which often suffers during pregnancy. Pilates as a form of exercise is also low impact, meaning there is little or no stress on ankles or legs.

Although there are specific Pilates movements that should be only be used with caution and by those who have become experts in this area, most of the other positions and realignments should be achievable by most people, even those who may have low levels of fitness and strength.

Co-ordination can also be improved by attending Pilates classes. A real awareness of the frame of the body is achieved with practice, which in turn aids the synchronisation of the body frame and movement. It is an ideal way to recover from sporting injuries and to build strength, so Pilates is used by many sports people. Regular sessions increase the strength of all of the major muscles and thus aid speedy recovery from strains and sprains.

Pilates can actually be modified in order to incorporate other kinds of movements and exercises; this flexibility of delivery allows access to this discipline to be even wider.

It is estimated that nationwide there are thousands of Pilates classes available, from Lancashire to Kent, making this a very popular form of exercise and pastime. Most Pilates beginners start their sessions with a basic explanation and exhibition of the principles of Pilates to increase their understanding of this form of exercise.

Pilates Classes: A Beginner's Overview

Charlotte Hopkinson is the founder of Live-Pilates. She is a Level 3 Advanced Pilates instructor with 10 years experience as a qualified Fitness Instructor.

Live-Pilates offers mainstream Pilates classes as well as specialised Pilates classes for back problems, ladies-only, men-only, mixed, beginners, advanced, pre-natal, post-natal and Powerpaced Pilates classes, as well as one-to-one Pilates sessions.

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