Hiring a Workers' Compensation Lawyer in Arizona
The limits on workers' comp lawyer fees in Arizona, filing deadlines, how to check a lawyer's license, and free state help for injured workers. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Arizona: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Arizona's ER 1.5 (Arizona Supreme Court Rule 42), the scope of representation and the basis or rate of the fee must be communicated to the client in writing, and contingency fee agreements must be signed by the client and meet ER 1.5(c). Contingency fees are not permitted in most family law matters or in any criminal defense case. If a fee is called nonrefundable or earned on receipt, the client must be told in writing that they may discharge the lawyer at any time and may be entitled to a refund. The bar's guidance also notes a contingency agreement cannot let the lawyer also take court-awarded fees or collect more than a statute allows. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The State Bar of Arizona's Fee Arbitration Program is free and voluntary for clients who dispute a lawyer's fee; the amount in dispute must be $1,000 or more and no litigation over the fee can be pending. Clients do not need a lawyer to take part. If both sides agree to arbitrate, the award is binding. Phone: 602-340-7379. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | Arizona's Client Protection Fund, created by the Arizona Supreme Court in 1961, can reimburse losses caused by an Arizona lawyer's dishonest conduct (theft, embezzlement, conversion, failure to refund unearned fees when no work was done, or intentional dishonesty) toward a client or in a qualifying fiduciary role. The lawyer generally must have been suspended for more than six months, disbarred, placed on interim suspension or disability inactive status, have died, or been convicted of a related felony. Negligence, malpractice and fee disputes where some work was done are not covered. The Trustees may pay up to $100,000 on one claim and up to $250,000 total in claims against one lawyer; payment is discretionary. Claims must be filed within five years of when the claimant knew or should have known of the dishonest conduct. |
Arizona rules to know first
| Lawyer fee limits | In Arizona the Industrial Commission sets a reasonable attorney's fee on application before the case is finally resolved, paid from the claimant's award directly to the attorney. The fee may be no more than 25% up to ten years from the date of the award (in cases involving solely loss of earning capacity, 25% up to five years from the final award), and no more than 25% of any installment may be withheld for the fee. The claimant or attorney may ask for review of whether the fee is reasonable. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: A.R.S. 23-1069 |
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| Deadline to file a claim | A claim must be filed in writing with the Industrial Commission within one year after the injury occurred or the right to compensation accrued. The year starts when the injury becomes manifest or when the worker knows, or reasonably should know, that a compensable injury occurred. Late filing is excused in limited cases, such as reliance on a misleading statement by the Commission, employer or insurer, or legal incapacity, and a late claim is not barred if the insurer or employer has already started paying compensation. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: A.R.S. § 23-1061(A)–(B) |
| Deadline to challenge a denial | Denied claims: a request for hearing must be filed with the Industrial Commission of Arizona within 90 days after notice of the insurer's, self-insured employer's or Commission's determination on the claim (late filing is excused only in limited cases). An administrative law judge's award becomes final unless a party requests review within 30 days after the award is served. A party affected by the decision on review may then apply to the Arizona Court of Appeals for a writ of certiorari. ALJ award review: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/23/00942.htm ; court review: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/23/00951.htm (the deadline to apply to the court of appeals was not stated in the text read). Source: A.R.S. §§ 23-947, 23-942, 23-951 |
| Can you sue your employer? | Suing the employer: Arizona workers' compensation is the exclusive remedy for a work injury or death against the employer, a co-employee acting within the scope of employment, and the employer's comp insurer or administrator. The exception is an injury caused by willful misconduct, meaning an act done knowingly and purposely with the direct object of injuring another, that is the personal act of the employer (a partner, or an elective officer of a corporation) or co-employee and shows willful disregard of employee safety; the employee may then either claim compensation or sue for damages. Separately, an employer that fails to secure required coverage can be sued and loses certain defenses (see uninsured_employer). Source: A.R.S. §§ 23-1022, 23-907 |
| Suing someone other than your employer | Suing someone else: an injured worker (or dependents) may sue a negligent or wrongful third party not in the same employ. The worker must give the insurer or self-insured employer written notice of intent to sue and keep it informed of pleadings and rulings; the insurer may intervene. If no suit is filed within one year after the claim accrues, the claim is deemed assigned to the insurer or self-insured employer, which may sue or reassign it. The insurer has a lien, without collection fee, on the amount actually collected (after reasonable expenses including attorney fees) up to the benefits paid, and any settlement for less than the benefits needs the insurer's written approval. Source: A.R.S. § 23-1023 |
| Filing a claim online | In Arizona the injured employee must file the workers' comp claim with the Industrial Commission of Arizona within one year after the injury occurred or the right to compensation accrued (the time starts when the injury becomes manifest). If the Commission receives notice of an injury, it sends the employee a claim form. Within ten days after notice of an accident, the employer must inform its insurance carrier and notify the Commission on Commission forms; an insurer or self-insured employer that receives a written injury notice must forward it to the Commission within seven business days and tell the employee to file a claim with the Commission. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: A.R.S. 23-1061 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Arizona offers an online Find an Attorney member directory but does not describe a statewide lawyer referral service. The Arizona courts' Self-Service Center lists the county bar referral services instead: the Maricopa County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, (602) 257-4434, which charges a small consultation fee, and the Pima County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service, (520) 623-4625, which offers a 30-minute consultation for a fee. State Bar public page: https://www.azbar.org/for-the-public/ |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The State Bar of Arizona's Member Directory lets you search lawyers by name or by legal need, with filters such as certified specialization, city, county, language and firm. Results show membership status, a State Bar admission-related date, practice area, professional liability insurance status, board-certified specializations and section memberships. Legal paraprofessionals and alternative business structures can also be looked up. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints ("bar charges") about Arizona lawyers, legal paraprofessionals and alternative business structures go to the State Bar of Arizona's Intake Department. The bar encourages calling the Intake Hotline (602-340-7280 or 800-319-0514 ext. 7280) before submitting a written charge, which can be filed with the online charge form. An Intake Bar Counsel reviews it, usually contacts the lawyer, and the matter may be dismissed, referred to diversion, or sent for screening investigation. The bar's "Check Legal Professional Discipline" link goes to its Member Directory. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Arizona has three LSC-funded legal aid organizations that give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Community Legal Services, (800) 852-9075 (Maricopa, Mohave, La Paz, Yavapai and Yuma counties and some nearby towns); DNA-People's Legal Services, (800) 789-5781 (Coconino County and the Navajo and Hopi Nations); and Southern Arizona Legal Aid, (800) 248-6789 (Pima and other southern and central counties and 11 Native American communities). Step Up to Justice offers free civil legal help to low-income residents of Pima County. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Arizona · Background guide
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.