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

    Even when it's part of your business model to regularly recover less
    than you charge? I'm not just talking about the odd client who wants to
    make a statement. I mean virtually one's entire caseload.

    I would quit if I didn't like who I was working for, or if I felt I was
    helping someone unethical.

    On 9/26/06, Ozarks Lawyer wrote:
    > 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'?

     
     

 
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