Contract with a lawyer

Hello everyone!

I'm about to sign a contract with a lawyer for his firm to represent me in solving severance package retrieval from my ex-employer (who made me laid off while on disability). The laywer sent me a copy of the contract to sign. I was expecting in the T&C of the contract to see something like "no cure no pay" and only pay to the laywer if the money is successfully retrieved from the employer which would make sense to me. Instead, I see the contract states the hourly rates of the laywer and his assistants (something like $400 an hour!!!) and asking me to put $2,500 upfront as the Retainer Fund. The contract also demands me to replenish this Retainer Fund monthly!!! apparently, until my case is resolved or until the laywer firm withdraws himself from the agreement or until I withdraw myself from it if for whatever reason.

Should I accept such an agreement? It doesn't sound like I have any guarantee but rather would waste my money regardless of the case resolution outcome.

I'm unemployed right now, and therefore, putting $2,500 upfront without any guarantees would be extremely difficult for me.

Is this normal when dealing with laywers in Texas, or should I decline this and go find another laywer?

Thanks beforehand, and have a blessed weekend!