Lawyers and clients are bound by a retainer agreement. The lawyer executes his mandate with care and diligence, and faithfully safeguards his client’s interests. The lawyer is entitled to fees and reimbursement of expenses, regardless of the outcome of the dispute.
The code of ethics of the Swiss Bar Association lays down general principles concerning fees.
Fees must be appropriate. It is determined according to the circumstances of the case, the difficulty and importance of the case, the interests of the client, the experience of the lawyer, the customary practice in the field and the outcome of the proceedings. The number of hours devoted to the case is also an important factor.
Upon acceptance of the retainer, the lawyer informs the client of the principles governing the fixing of fees.
The lawyer may also agree to a fixed fee. These must correspond to the likely services the lawyer will be called upon to provide.
The firm’s philosophy is to assess each case on its own merits, in order to find appropriate solutions for its clients, both financially and otherwise.
In principle, the client pays a retainer to cover the lawyer’s work on the case.
If the conditions for entitlement are met and the client’s financial situation does not allow him to cover his attorney’s fees, he can also apply for legal aid. Further information is available on the canton’s website.