Contingency Agreements?

Can a lawyer have a contract titled Contingency Agreement and say if the amount of the settlement in a contingency agreement is less then the hourly rate, the attorney would get the hourly rate? I dont get how their can be both a contingency fee agreement and if they arent happy with the outcome they can charge you hourly. Doesnt that defeat the merits of a contingency agreement. If that happens are the other provisions in the contract still enforceable? When does the attorney have to tell you it is no longer based on contingency? When the check is in hand? That just seems so subjective.