Structured Attorney Fees: Keep More of What You Earn

You crushed the case. You earned your fee. Now let’s make sure you keep more of it.

Have you seen Erin Brockovich? If not, here’s the gist:

A single mom takes a job at a law firm, stumbles into a case about contaminated water, and helps uncover one of the biggest class-action settlements in U.S. history — $333 million for over 600 injured families.

If the plaintiff firm took their standard 1/3rd, that’s $111 million in attorney fees.

Now here’s the part they don’t cover in the movie: That $111 million is fully taxable income — and when it hits your books all at once, Uncle Sam is coming for a big slice.

Erin Brockovich

💡 The Smart Move: Structure Your Fees

Let’s say you just closed a $3 million case for a deserving client (well done!). Your 1/3 fee is $1 million.

You already had a great year, and this extra income could push you into a much higher tax bracket, costing you a lot more in taxes, or even more if it stacks on top of other revenue.

So what can you do?

➡️ Structure your fees.

A structured attorney fee allows you to defer taxes and receive your income gradually, earning interest while spreading your payments over time, all while reducing your annual taxable income.

📌 Real-World Use Cases

You can tailor structured fees to fit your practice and lifestyle:

• 💼 Cover monthly office expenses like rent or utilities

• 📣 Fund your advertising budget (TV, print, digital)

• 🚗 Pay for a vehicle lease

• 🧑‍💼 Offset employee salaries

• 🏡 Help with your mortgage

• 🛫 Create supplemental retirement income starting at any age you choose

• 🔁 Or simply take recurring payments over time instead of a lump sum

Bonus:

If you need upfront funds (for overhead, payroll, etc.), the carrier can issue:

• One check for what you need now

• One check to fund your structured fee

  
  

📞 Why Work With Us?

• We don’t charge you anything.

• We only get paid if you structure — and we’re paid by the life company, not out of your fee.

• There’s zero impact on the client’s recovery or the defendant’s payout.

  
  

We’ll walk you through the options and provide custom illustrations. It’s quick, easy, and it could save you thousands (or hundreds of thousands) in taxes over time.

Think of it as smart money management — built for high-performing attorneys like you.

👉 Contact us today for a free quote. No pressure. No fees. Just better planning.