A contingency fee is a type of legal fee arrangement where the lawyer receives compensation only if they win the case for their client. In other words, it's a percentage (usually around 30-40%) of any settlement or judgment that the attorney obtains on behalf of their client. This means that the client does not have to pay any legal fees upfront and instead pays only if they are successful in their case. Contingency fee arrangements are commonly used in personal injury cases, but can also be applied in other types of lawsuits such as employment discrimination or civil rights cases. The purpose of this type of payment is to provide access to legal representation for those who may not have the financial means to pay traditional hourly fees and to encourage attorneys to take on high-risk cases that they might otherwise avoid due to lack of guaranteed payment.