How Much Does a Lawyer Cost to Review a Severance Agreement in Los Angeles?

This is the question that stops most people from calling a lawyer. You just lost your income and the last thing you want is a surprise legal bill. So let's be upfront about what this actually costs.

The Short Answer

Many Los Angeles employment attorneys, including our team at L&F Brown, offer free initial consultations for severance agreement reviews. You can sit down with an attorney, walk through your agreement, and get an honest assessment of whether the offer is fair and whether you have claims that create leverage. No charge.

If you want to go beyond the initial review and hire an attorney to negotiate on your behalf, the cost depends on the fee structure and the complexity of your situation.

Common Fee Structures

Free consultation + contingency. Some firms review your agreement for free and, if you have viable legal claims, represent you on a contingency basis. This means they only get paid if they increase your severance or win a separate legal claim. Their fee is a percentage of what they recover for you. You pay nothing out of pocket.

Flat fee for review only. Some attorneys charge a flat fee to review the agreement and provide written recommendations. In the Los Angeles area, this typically ranges from $500 to $2,500 depending on the complexity of the agreement and the attorney's experience level. A straightforward agreement with no major red flags is on the lower end. A complex executive package with equity provisions, deferred compensation, and multi-state implications is on the higher end.

Hourly rate for review and negotiation. Employment attorneys in LA typically charge between $300 and $600 per hour. A review might take two to four hours. Negotiation adds more time, but most severance negotiations are resolved within 10 to 20 hours of attorney time total. Some attorneys cap their fees or provide estimates upfront so you know what to expect.

Hybrid approaches. Some attorneys charge a modest flat fee for the initial review and then switch to contingency if negotiation or litigation is warranted. This balances the attorney's risk with the client's ability to pay.

What You Get for the Money

A thorough severance agreement review isn't just reading the document. Here's what an experienced California employment attorney actually does:

Evaluates the release. Is the release language appropriate? Does it comply with OWBPA requirements if you're over 40? Are there claims being waived that shouldn't be?

Assesses your potential claims. Do you have discrimination, retaliation, or wage claims that are worth more than the severance offer? This assessment is the most valuable part of the review because it determines your leverage.

Identifies problematic provisions. Non-competes that shouldn't be there. Confidentiality clauses that are too broad. Cooperation requirements that could become burdensome. Clawback provisions that could require you to return the money.

Compares the offer to market. Is the severance amount reasonable given your tenure, position, and industry? An attorney who handles severance regularly knows what's typical and what's low.

Advises on strategy. Should you accept, negotiate, or walk away? What's realistic to ask for? How should you approach the counter-offer?

The ROI Question

People hesitate to spend $1,000 on a lawyer when they're not sure it will make a difference. But consider the math.

If an attorney identifies that your offer is below market and negotiates an additional four weeks of severance on a $100,000 salary, that's roughly $7,700 in additional pay. Minus a $1,500 flat fee, you net over $6,000 that you wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

If the attorney discovers you have a strong discrimination claim and negotiates a settlement that's three times the original offer, the return is even more significant.

And if the attorney reviews everything and tells you the offer is fair? You've bought peace of mind and certainty. You'll sign knowing you made an informed decision, not a pressured one.

When Free Reviews Make Sense

If you're unsure whether your situation warrants hiring an attorney, start with a free consultation. A good employment attorney will be honest with you. If the offer is fair and you don't have significant claims, they'll tell you that. They won't manufacture a case to justify their fees.

Free consultations are especially valuable when you're not sure whether you have legal claims. The attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your termination and tell you whether there's something worth pursuing. This assessment alone can be worth thousands of dollars in information.

Get a Free Assessment

At L&F Brown, we offer free severance agreement consultations for employees in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. No cost to talk through your agreement, no obligation to hire us, and honest advice about whether spending money on legal representation makes sense for your specific situation. Call us before you sign.