[nyokodo]

> proving your case beyond a reasonable doubt is time consuming and difficult

Civil cases aren’t generally required to be decided beyond a reasonable doubt but merely with a preponderance of the evidence. It’s more that court in general is often time consuming and difficult.

> they expect to be compensated for the risk of getting nothing

It depends on the lawyer and the case, e.g. most class action suits the lawyers charge nothing up front but take a cut of the damages.