Re: unconscionable fees?

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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'?