Workers' comp attorneys in Minnesota work on contingency, so you don't pay out of pocket. This calculator estimates the maximum fee based on the recovery amount and the fee schedule that applies based on your date of injury.
- • Fee schedules vary by date of injury (DOI era)
- • Statutory compensation bases and cumulative fee caps change over time
- • This tool is an estimate and assumes a standard contingent fee (not excess fees)
Law checked through 08/19/2026
Workers Comp Lawyer Fees Calculator (Minnesota)
Enter the recovery amount and date of injury to estimate the maximum contingency fee under Minnesota law.
Verification notice
Fee schedules are derived from Minn. Stat. § 176.081, subd. 1 and DLI guidance. The pre-2013 tiered formula and costs/disbursement rules should be independently verified against the Revisor and your fee agreement. This is an estimate only.
Inputs
Only benefits that were genuinely in dispute count. Voluntarily paid benefits are excluded.
Determines which statutory fee schedule applies
Understanding attorney fees in workers' comp
Under Minn. Stat. § 176.081, subd. 1, attorney fees are calculated based on genuinely disputed compensation obtained, not total settlement or total benefits paid. The formula and cap depend on your date of injury.
Costs and disbursements (filing fees, medical records, experts) are separate from the attorney fee. Depending on your fee agreement and the outcome, you may be responsible for costs. Review your fee agreement carefully.
Fee schedule summary
DOI on/after 10/1/2024: 20% of first $275,000; max fee $55,000
DOI 10/1/2013–9/30/2024: 20% of first $130,000; max fee $26,000
DOI 10/1/1992–9/30/2013: 25% of first $4,000 + 20% of next $60,000; max fee $13,000
Minn. Stat. § 176.081, subd. 1; 2024 c 97 s 4
This is an informational tool, not legal advice. Results depend entirely on the information you enter and may not reflect all statutory exceptions or fact-specific rules. Verify against the underlying statute and consult an attorney for case-specific decisions.
Minnesota workers’ comp attorney fees are contingent: generally 20% of the disputed benefits the attorney recovers, so $100,000 of recovered benefits yields about a $20,000 fee. The cumulative cap follows the date of injury: $55,000 on or after October 1, 2024, $26,000 from October 1, 2013, and $13,000 before that. (Minn. Stat. § 176.081.)
Reviewed by Daniel C. Swenson, Minnesota workers' compensation attorney, Robert Wilson & Associates. Weekly benefit rates verified through 2025-10-01. General information, not legal advice.
How Minnesota workers’ comp attorney fees work
Contingent fees are based only on benefits that are genuinely disputed and obtained because of the lawyer’s work, not on every dollar in your claim.
For injuries on or after 10/1/2024, the fee is 20% of the first $275,000 of disputed compensation, capped at $55,000.
Earlier injury dates use earlier schedules (for example, 20% of the first $130,000 capped at $26,000 for 10/1/2013–9/30/2024).
Worked example
For a 10/1/2025 injury with $100,000 in disputed, recovered benefits, the fee is 20% × $100,000 = $20,000. For $400,000 disputed, the fee is capped at $55,000.
How serious is your situation?
Use your result as a screen. On track means the numbers line up. Act quickly means something is off and the dispute steps usually have firm deadlines.
May be on track
This estimate reflects fees only on disputed, recovered benefits. Save it.
Worth watching
You entered undisputed benefits; those generally do not count toward the fee. Re-check what is actually in dispute.
Act quickly
You are being quoted a fee on your whole claim or above the statutory cap. Ask for the fee calculation in writing: fees are set by statute, and OAH reviews fee requests.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the fee 20% of my entire claim?
- No. It is based on benefits genuinely disputed and obtained because of the lawyer’s work, subject to a statutory cap.
- What is the current fee cap?
- For injuries on or after 10/1/2024, the cumulative contingent-fee cap is $55,000 (20% of the first $275,000).
- Do I pay a Minnesota workers’ comp lawyer up front?
- Contingent workers’ comp fees generally come from disputed benefits recovered through the lawyer’s work, not an hourly retainer paid at the start. Costs and unusual fee issues should still be explained in the representation agreement.
- Who approves workers’ comp attorney fees in Minnesota?
- Workers’ comp attorney fees are governed by Minn. Stat. § 176.081 and are subject to review in the workers’ compensation system. The lawyer must provide the required fee notice, and disputed or additional fees can require approval.
- Is the attorney-fee cap per lawyer or per claim?
- The statutory cap is cumulative for fees arising from the same injury, not a fresh cap each time the worker changes lawyers. Prior fees can therefore reduce the amount remaining under the cap.
- Can the insurer ever pay attorney fees instead of taking them from my benefits?
- Some fee awards can be assessed against an employer or insurer under specific statutory rules, including certain medical-benefit disputes. That is different from the ordinary contingent fee withheld from disputed monetary benefits.
Sources
How we keep this math current, including our test suite and rate-change history: accuracy and source notes.