Our Billing Practices Attorney-Client Relationship

Our Billing Practices We don’t measure our own success by how much money we make, but we do want to make a decent living.  We recognize that legal services are expensive, and we take very seriously our obligation to render honest, accurate bills that fairly reflect both our compensation arrangements with our clients and the value of our services in light of such factors as the novelty and complexity of the questions involved, the skill required to provide proper legal representation, our familiarity with the specific area of law involved, the preclusion of other engagements caused by the work, the magnitude of the problem, the results achieved, customary fees for similar legal services, time limitations imposed by our client or by circumstances, the opportunity to use previously prepared forms or documents, our efficiency or lack thereof, and the benefit provided to our client net of our fees and costs.   Our fees are usually based on our normal hourly rates, although we are open to the consideration of other arrangements—retainers, contingent fees, hybrid fees, flat fees—for a particular project or engagement.  In all cases we agree explicitly with our client on the basis for our fee when we establish the attorney-client relationship.  When we believe a particular task can be performed by more than one person in the firm, we delegate the task to the person we view as capable of completing the task most efficiently (with the client’s prior consent, where appropriate).  We recognize that most clients, businesses and individuals alike, highly prize predictability.  They need to budget their legal expenses like they budget their other obligations, and the sense that legal fees and costs are uncontrollable and unknowable until the bill is presented is both stressful and damaging to the mutual trust that is so important to a functioning attorney-client relationship.  We encourage discussion of these issues early and as often as necessary, and we welcome reasonable requests for budgets and other measures for reducing uncertainty and enhancing our client’s sense of control.    We normally bill monthly for our fees and costs incurred on client work, and payment is due on receipt of our statement unless we have agreed to other terms.  Outstanding balances not paid within 30 days may, at our option, accrue interest at the rate of one percent (1%) per month, compounded monthly until paid.  In some circumstances, we may require an advance against anticipated fees or costs. We encourage our clients always to feel absolutely free to question us about any aspect of our representation of their interests, including any statement rendered for fees or costs.