There are "underlings" and they charged full amounts EACH when even meeting with each other. What is this called when they do this(I need terminology for filing complaint)? They would call each other, email each other, and charge client for each of their time.
2007-03-15 11:08:23 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
One attorney highered. Others are people that work for her. It's not a firm of lawyers.
2007-03-15 13:15:48 · update #1
If they are meeting (emailing, phoning) to discuss your case then this constitutes a billable hour. Your case + their time = billable hour.
Welcome to the world of law!
2007-03-15 11:17:54 · answer #1 · answered by Susie D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An attorney's only product is his or her time. If an attorney devoted time to your case, then it is appropriate for you to receive a bill for that time.
Some cases are complex and need a team to prosecute the matter or maybe matters are delegated to junior attorneys to save costs. In other cases, it is more efficient to have all the staff on a case present for a meeting to that information doesn't have to be repeated over and over again to staff that wasn't at the meeting. There are many reasons for the charges you see.
Attorneys aren't perfect and your law firm might be willing to reduce the bill. Ask them why it was necessary to have all of the attorneys at these meeting. You might be surprised at how will they might be to adjust the bill.
2007-03-15 20:00:15 · answer #2 · answered by Carl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me make this clear. A lawyer is charging a client double for emailing, calling and meeting. It's fraud. It's fraud across state and federal lines because of using the internet. I would type up the law under this over charging (don't you remember The Firm?) and leave it on his boss's desk.If this gets adjudicated you want to be on the right side of the law. All who know about this are accessories. Be sure. If you think he is breaking the law: All of you involved knew nothing about billing. He can be investigated or disbarred. wow this is serious.(if you have conference calls with 2 or more attys, it can be charged. you are all worth money for your time and the firm can get reimbursed for your time)
2007-03-15 18:20:04 · answer #3 · answered by dtwladyhawk 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Attorneys charge you for every minute that they work on your case. This includes phone calls, e-mails, anything that they do to work on your case. This is how they bill you, it's how they get paid, and it's all perfectly legal.
2007-03-15 18:45:15 · answer #4 · answered by Team Chief 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
uh...that's what they do, they charge for every minute billable. Thye should have told you all thiswhen you hired them. Every phone call, every email, every meeting, every outside meeting, every outside phone, all if it pertains to your business!
2007-03-15 18:13:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋