ATTORNEYS LAW STUDENTS PUBLIC
TOP POSTS ALL POSTS SUBMIT POST
Share | Print | Report Post Legal Ethics Chatboard
Click here


Hot Now...
• Attorney Chat Center
• Attorney Classifieds
• Attorney Chatboards
• Practice Areas
• Law Students
Most Popular
• Set Your Quick Links
• Chat Center
• All Chatboards
• Classified Ads

Re: unconscionable fees?
Posted by Ozarks Lawyer on 9/26/06

    Yes, it's ethical to charge by the hour regardless of the recovery.
    If you don't like who are working for, quit.


    On 9/24/06, secretary wrote:
    > I appreciate your opinion and would also appreciate any one else's
    > who may be reading this thread.
    >
    > For the record, the setting of fee scales was central to the
    > original question. Nor was my last question different or "evolved"
    > from the original one. The original question regards whether it is
    > acceptable to make it 95&37; of your business to handle nuisance
    cases
    > and charge fees that are USUALLY at or in excess of the recovery,
    > although those fees might not be unreasonable relative to the time
    > spent.
    >
    > Again I appreciate any advice. I'm not however going to put up
    with
    > the implication that I want a certain answer or that I am changing
    > the facts to evoke the answer I want. That is not the case.
    >
    > On 9/24/06, Curmudgeon wrote:
    >> I don't tell them what kind of car to buy or where to shop for
    >> their clothes or groceries. How they spend their money is their
    >> business. Advertising agencies charge fees for "making a
    >> statement" for their clients. Television stations charge for
    >> air time for politicians, even though the guy doesn't have a
    >> prayer in hell of getting elected. If a client wants to pay
    >> money to publicly air his opinion or his beef, I'll take his
    >> money. Keep in mind---I'm answering the question you originally
    >> posed. I'm not going to get into a debate about the ethics of
    >> inadequate disclosures or the setting of fee scales and I'm not
    >> going to discuss an evolving set of hypothetical questions.
    >>
    >> On 9/24/06, secretary wrote:
    >>> Yes, but if they are willing to pay for it, would you represent
    >>> them, knowing that you were helping them take an unfavorable
    >> risk?
    >>>
    >>>
    >>> On 9/24/06, Curmudgeon wrote:
    >>>> If a client wants to "make a statement" or fight something
    >>>> as a "matter of principle"--I was always comfortable telling
    >>>> them to do in on their own dime. Not mine. My time and
    >>>> knowledge are my stock in trade. If you want to buy my
    >>>> stock, pay for it. Don't expect me to give it to you.
    >>>>
    >>>> On 9/24/06, secretary wrote:
    >>>>> What do you think about a lawyer who settles his cases for
    >>>> a
    >>>>> nuisance value (i.e., $1,500 - $5,000.00) approxinately
    >>>> 95&37;
    >>>>> of the time, having charged his clients $2,000 to $4,000.00
    >>>>> to open the case? Is this inherently unethical? Is he
    >>>>> excused if he specializes in clients who are willing to
    >>>> take
    >>>>> an unfavorable legal risk in order to 'make a statement'?

     
     

 
Google
 
Web Counsel.Net
  Site Map: Home Search Legal Jobs Classifieds Law Students Contacts Practice Areas Advertise
  © 1996 - 2008. All Rights Reserved. Please review our Terms of Use, Mission Statement, and Privacy Policy.