As a lawyer, friends approached me to handle a dispute with their contractor. Now the question is, do I send them a bill? They have asked for one in passing, but it feels weird. The matter became fairly complicated to deal with and therefore the invoice is $1,500. It's more of a moral dilemma at this point. Any thoughts?
2007-11-27 06:00:56 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Some of you are assuming that billing wasn't discussed before hand. It was. I should have been more clear. Just mentioned I was feeling a little weird/guilty about it. Wanted some reassurance or discouragement. Thanks for your advice.
2007-11-27 10:27:07 · update #1
depends on how close of friends and what kind of work. They were prolly happy they didnt have to deal with the contractor. if you saved them 3k or more, that sounds like a fair invoice. If that is your normal price and no money was saved just aggravation, id give them a discount. maybe 1k or $500.
but if you are a professional, its ok to charge friends, as long as you adhere to the same standard of work you normally do. i don't mind paying friends for their work, and am happy I'm getting personalized attention.
2007-11-27 06:13:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you didn't discuss it in advance, I can see where this would be problematic. Since they have specifically asked for the bill, I'd go ahead and give them one.
If it assauges your "weird" feeling and you're able to do so (you don't mention whether you're working for a firm or if you're a sole practitioner), you might want to conspicuously put a "Good Friend/First Time Customer Discount" line on the bill and knock off some of it.
Every time you practice law for a client, you place yourself at some degree of legal risk...and should be compensated for that and for your professional skill.
Friendly word of advice: Just like ladies of the evening, an attorney's fees are worth vastly less when the job is done. Always discuss rates in advance and get a written fee agreement.
2007-11-27 14:16:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even tho they're friends, you should have laid the business footing in the first place. You know, come into the office, agree to the terms, bring their docs, sign the contract.
You need to write it off as a lesson learned, and then use the experience in the future.
There are just some places I refuse to offer legal advice, like church or close friends. And if someone asks for my opinion, I might give an off-the-cuff one, but I always preface it by saying, "It's worth what you pay for it." In other words, my opinion isn't worth anything.
2007-11-27 14:44:48 · answer #3 · answered by scottclear 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tell me, if it turns out that you ****** up this "complicated" matter, and it goes south and costs them a bunch of money, do you think they'll say "Oh, he's a friend, we aren't going to sue him for malpractice"?
I would give them a bill, but with a discount because they're friends. Explain that you're glad to help them out, but you had your paralegal etc to pay as well, and that the affair took quite a bit of time.
Richard
2007-11-27 14:10:33 · answer #4 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on how good of friends they are. Most attorneys have people working for them that do the paperwork and you are paying them. Decide how much it is costing you and go from there.
2007-11-27 14:06:40 · answer #5 · answered by sensible_man 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
some 'friends' will take advantage. if i feel uncomfortable billing them, i tell them i just don't have the time in the future. that way no one is hurt
2007-11-27 14:09:15 · answer #6 · answered by qb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
2007-11-27 14:55:17 · answer #7 · answered by zombi86 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yep send it!
2007-11-27 14:04:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋