Are contingency fees allowed?

• A. Yes, allowed with a cap.
• B. Yes under certain conditions.
• C. They are prohibited.
• D. Only for non-litigation matters.

Answer: (C)

Contingency fees—where the lawyer’s fee depends on winning or the size of the outcome—are not allowed for Queensland barristers. The rules require fees to be based on work done, time spent, or a fixed arrangement, and to be reasonable, regardless of the result. This restriction helps keep advocacy independent and free from pressure to pursue a more favorable outcome simply for a bigger fee, and it protects clients from fee structures that could distort decision-making. In this setting, there are no sanctioned contingency-fee options for barristers, so the appropriate stance is that such arrangements are prohibited. Fees should be set in advance and reflect the work performed rather than the case’s success.