|
Probably the most
basic ingredient in any fee charged by a lawyer is the amount of
time spent on a particular problem, depending on the
circumstances of the case as well as the experience, expertise
and reputation of the lawyer.
An experienced lawyer may be better trained to handle your
problem. If your lawyer is well known as an able lawyer in one
field, a higher fee may be charged because those specific
services are in special demand. This situation is similar to
that found in the field of medicine when a doctor charges more
for a complex operation than for a routine one.
In some cases, the result itself may decide the fee. An example
of this is the "contingency" agreement, often used in personal
injury cases. The lawyer receives no fee unless money is
recovered for the client. If money is recovered, then the lawyer
is paid an agreed-upon percentage of the recovery.
The client, by law, is responsible for court costs such as
filing fees and subpoena fees. The client must also reimburse
the lawyer for any actual expenses paid out of the office funds
(for items such as long-distance telephone calls, investigators,
medical reports and depositions).
A four-page document and the advice given in a few minutes are
actually the products of many hours of work. In addition, this
end result may have involved time spent by other persons in the
lawyer's office, i.e., a legal assistant, a lawyer associate or
a legal secretary and the cost of operating equipments involved.
Do not hesitate to discuss fees at any time during the handling
of your legal matter. If you receive a statement and believe the
fee isn't proper, talk it over with your lawyer. Usually,
misunderstandings about fees result from the fact that the
client is not aware of the extent of the lawyer's work on the
case.
A written fee agreement is highly recommended for the mutual
benefit of both the client and the lawyer.
Return to:
Guidelines Page |
