1. The Firm hereby acknowledges receipt of $______ as a retainer in this matter and, in consideration of the payment thereof, agrees to provide legal services in connection therewith. The retainer paid herewith by the Client shall be applied against the final bill rendered either upon completion of the within matter or the termination of the Firm's representation of the Client. Further, the sum of $_____ shall immediately become the property of the Firm and is non-refundable.

2.  The services to be performed are to handle, compromise, adjust, and do any and all necessary things in the prosecution of any claims which the Client may have for damages against his/her employer arising out of an adverse job action or by a hostile working environment.    The Firm further agrees to act in the Client's behalf with any proposed settlement, and shall make no settlement without the Client's consent or approval.

3.  It is the Firm's intention to handle this action in three stages:

Stage A:  Communication, including performing the appropriate follow-up, with the employer in an attempt to resolve the Client's problem prior to initiating an action at the state antidiscrimination commission and EEOC.

Stage B:  Initiating an action at the state Commission Against Discrimination or EEOC, which is mandatory prior to bringing suit in court.

Stage C:  Bringing suit in court, if appropriate.

5.  Compensation for Stages B and C will be by the contingency plan described in Paragraph 6 or by the award of statutory attorney's fees, whichever is the greater.

6.  The contingency upon which compensation is to be paid is the collection of monies following settlement or award on the claim or claims set forth above and the amount of such compensation which is to be paid by the Client to the Firm is as follows:

        a.  30% of the amount of any offer of settlement made before 
             suit is commenced;

        b.  35% of the amount of any offer of settlement made after suit 
             has been commenced but before trial;

        c.  40% of the amount of any offer of settlement made after trial
             was commenced;

        d.  45% of the judgment upon a finding by a judge or a verdict 
             by a jury;

        e.  50% in the event that either an appeal is taken by a 
             defendant from an award on the claim or claims hereunder
             or in the event of a new trial or a second trial upon the 
             claim hereunder.

7.  The Client is not to be liable to pay compensation otherwise than from amounts collected for him/her by the Firm, except as follows:

        a. The Client agrees to assume and pay for all out-of-pocket
             disbursements incurred in connection with this matter
             (e.g., filing fees, witness fees, travel and mileage costs, 
             sheriff's and constable's fees, expenses of depositions, 
             investigative expenses, medical reports, stenographers, and 
             other incidental expenses); and the Firm agrees to obtain the
             Client's approval before incurring any disbursements in 
             excess of $200.00.

        b.  After signing this agreement, the Client is responsible for 
             depositing with the Firm a sum of $750.00, which the Firm
             will deposit in its Clients' Fund Account, and out of which
             the Firm will pay or reimburse itself for the out-of-pocket 
             expenses in "a" above.

8.   Reasonable compensation on the foregoing contingency is  to be paid by the Client to the Firm, but such compensation (including that of any associate counsel) is not to exceed the above maximum percentages of the total amount collected (see Paragraph 6).

9.   In any event, the Client is liable for all reasonable expenses and disbursements of the Firm and shall reimburse the Firm for such amounts.

10.  The Client understands that he or she has the right to consult with another lawyer in connection with any of the terms of this agreement prior to signing it.

11.   If the attorney is discharged by the Client prior to the conclusion of this representation, the attorney is entitled to be then compensated for her reasonable expenses and disbursements.  Further, the attorney is to be compensated for the fair value of the services rendered to the Client up to the time of discharge, but the amount of the fee shall not be due to the attorney until the subject matter litigation is concluded pursuant to Paragraph 6 above.

12.   The Client has read this agreement carefully and understand the terms hereof.

THIS AGREEMENT and its performance are subject to General Rules 3:14 of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.

I HAVE READ THE ABOVE AGREEMENT BEFORE SIGNING IT.   THE UNDERSIGNED CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGES THE RECEIPT OF A FULLY SIGNED COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT.

                                                         SIGNED IN DUPLICATE
 
 

____________________                  Sign here after details are agreed upon
Date                                                   Client Name
 

                                                          LAW OFFICE OF BARBARA C. JOHNSON

                                                           By __________________________________
                                                                Barbara C. Johnson, Esq.