How do you dispute lawyer fees if you believe you are being overcharged?

Question

How are the legitimate rules/laws prohibiting a lawyer from overcharging his/her client? This seems to be a very big problem in American society and a lot of lawyers are overcharging their clients for small and insignificant services, such as giving their client(s) a phone number. Am I the only person here who thinks this is ridiculous? Please suggest something...anything!

Answer 1

Read your contract.  Attorneys are charging for time, usually by the quarter-hour.

That's only one good reason why I would use other alternatives for directory assistance.  Cheaper than $150/hour.

Call on your attorney appropriately, for things that the attorney should be handling.  When the attorney expends time on your behalf and at your request, pay for the time.

If there is a billing question, ask your attorney to explain it.

If there is no adequate explanation, contact your state bar association disciplinary committee for more information.

Answer 2

It is bad.  They even want to over charge you for disputing the bill or questioning it.

You can file a complaint with your state Bar Association.  They seem to be the only people who have any influence on attorneys.

Answer 3

The lawyer fees should be spelled out in the retainer agreement.  If the lawyer is charging on an hourly basis, most large firms and reputable lawyers then send an itemized bill that details their time in increments of 10-15 minutes.  An itemized bill may be required by law and the law will state if the lawyer can "round up".  

Everything a lawyer does is "on the clock".  If a lawyer charges $200/hour, you may think that you're just giving him a quick call and then be angry when your 15 minute call costs you $50.  There is no such thing as a quick call, so keep the calls to a minimum.  Clients often think they have formed a friendship and pick up the phone everytime something occurs to them.  This is a business relationship only, so make a list of things you want to ask him or her, make one call, keep the chit-chat to a minimum and get off the phone.  Don't use your lawyer as a therapist - this often happens in divorce cases.  If your spouse pisses you off, decide if it's worth a few hundred dollars to vent or if you can call a friend instead.  If you think the matter requires the lawyer to write a letter to your spouse or whomever the matter involves, ask him beforehand for an estimate of his time to write it.  You may decide it's not worth it.

Prior to hiring the lawyer, ask that you be given details of the billing process in writing: are you charged for copies, etc.  Does he do all his own work or does a paralegal do some of it.  What is the charge for the paralegal.  Prior to hiring the lawyer is the time to find this all out, not when the bill arrives.

Keep you own record as this will help you if you question the bill.