In Illinois, the breach of contract lawyer cost will vary depending on the fee arrangement that a lawyer uses to bill their client, how complex the case is expected to be, as well as other factors. The average hourly fee a lawyer in Illinois will charge usually ranges between $150 and $500 per hour or more.
Depending on the location and experience level of the lawyer, the fee may increase or decrease. When an individual is a party to a contract, and another party breached that contract, they may need a breach of contract attorney.
A local attorney in Illinois can help an individual resolve their contract issue using mediation, negotiation, and litigation. When someone wants to get more information on the types of remedies they may be able to pursue, they should schedule a legal consultation.
What Is a Breach of Contract Attorney, and Why Might You Need One?
Breach of contract lawyers are attorneys who handle cases involving disputes and violations of written agreements called contracts. These types of lawyers have knowledge about the laws governing contracts and are able to provide their clients with guidance when they have suffered losses due to a breach of a contract.
It may be helpful to obtain assistance from a breach of contract lawyer when an individual:
- Is a party to a contract where the other party did not fulfill their obligation and they suffered financial or other losses
- Needs to file a breach of contract lawsuit in order to get compensation for the damages they suffered resulting from the violation
- Was accused of breaching a contract and needs defending in a legal action
What Other Factors Cause the Costs of a Lawyer To Vary?
There can be differences in the cost of a lawyer due to numerous different factors, such as:
- Where the lawyers practices
- When a lawyer practices in a larger city or a more affluent area, they can charge higher fees
- The experience level of the lawyer
- If a lawyer has a successful track record and more years of experience, they may also charge higher fees
- The apparent complexity of the case
- When there are multiple parties, large sums of money, or complicated legal issues in a case, more time and resources may be needed, resulting in higher fees
- How the attorney bills their clients
- They may charge:
- hourly fees
- flat fees
- contingency fees
What Services Do Breach of Contract Attorneys Provide?
A lawyer who handles breach of contract cases can provide many different services for their clients, such as:
- Legal consultations
- Damages assessments
- Negotiation
- Mediation
- Litigation
- Contract review and drafting
Legal consultations
In legal consultations, a potential client meets with a lawyer they are considering hiring to discuss their case, including:
- The nature of the breach
- Details about the contract
- Damages or losses that resulted due to the beach
In this meeting, an attorney may give the potential client legal advice on their issue and the options they may have to resolve it.
Damages assessments
An attorney can provide their client with an assessment of the damages they can request. These include harms or losses that the client suffered because of another party’s breach of a contract, such as:
- Direct financial losses, for example, lost profits or other expenses
- Consequential or indirect damages, which is harm to the client’s reputation or the loss of future business opportunities
A client will want to gather various documents to show their lawyer for damage assessments, including:
- Receipts
- Invoices
- Bank statements
- Correspondence related to the breach
Negotiation
Negotiations are used in many different cases to resolve them outside of the courtroom. A lawyer will communicate with the other party about the issues and the possibility of settlement.
This may be done using phone calls, emails, meetings, and other communications. Negotiations can be less costly and faster ways to resolve breach of contracts cases.
If the other parties to the dispute are not willing to negotiate, it may be necessary to use mediation or litigation.
Mediation
Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) where the parties can resolve their dispute outside of court. In this process, a mediator helps the parties communicate, negotiate, and try to reach a resolution that satisfies everyone involved.
Mediators can assist parties with clearing up misunderstandings and help them find common ground. Mediation gives the parties some control over the outcome of their case while allowing them to resolve the issue quicker and cheaper than using litigation.
Litigation
When an issue is not resolved using negotiation or mediation, it may be necessary to file a lawsuit. An individual’s lawyer will prepare and file their complaint and represent them in court.
They will provide their clients with updates throughout the case and give them guidance on decisions they may be required to make, such as accepting a settlement offer or proceeding to trial.
Contract review and drafting
If an individual is considering entering into a contract, their lawyer can review it for any issues before they sign. Even if someone has already entered into a contract, an attorney can still review it and ensure all provisions are clearly written, enforceable, and that they align with the interests of the business.
An individual’s lawyer can review the contract for any inconsistencies, potential loopholes, or other ambiguities that can be exploited by other parties or that may result in a future dispute.
What Are the Advantages of Hiring a Breach of Contract Lawyer?
Hiring a breach of contract lawyers can give an individual many different types of benefits, such as:
- Protecting an individual’s rights
- A lawyer will ensure all of an individual’s rights are preserved throughout the process
- Saving time
- Having a lawyer saves time and reduces stress because the individual is able to focus on their own lives and issues while their case is professionally resolved
- The likelihood increases of obtaining their desired outcome
- A lawyer can help an individual get the outcome they want, as they will be familiar with legal requirements and processes as well as how to present the best case on their behalf
Should I Talk to a Lawyer About My Breach of Contract Case?
If you have any kind of breach of contract question or issue in Illinois, you should reach out to an Illinois breach of contract lawyer. Although you may think it will be expensive to hire an attorney, it will likely cost you much more trying to handle the issue on your own.
Your lawyer will be able to assess what types of damages you may be able to request and help you calculate the proper amount to ask for. Additionally, if the other side offers a settlement, your attorney can help you evaluate its fairness and whether you should accept.
It is easy and free to find a breach of contract lawyer in your area with LegalMatch’s lawyer matching services. It is a confidential service that connects you to attorneys near you who can help you resolve your breach of contract dispute or issue.
Some lawyers will also offer you free consultations, which will allow you to choose the one who best fits your budget and needs and with whom you are comfortable working.
