Tips on what to look for in lawyers' fees -- and how to avoid disputes about them

One of the biggest sources of misunderstanding between lawyers and clients is the matter of the fee. This article gives some tips on what to look for in lawyers' fees -- and how to avoid disputes about them.

If you are in the process of hiring a lawyer, you can use this information to help buy legal services at a fair price. If you have already hired an attorney, you can evaluate whether or not you have been overcharged.

In essence, you want a lawyer who knows the subject matter of your legal problem inside and out, charges fairly, treats you with respect and with whom you can communicate. Allowing for the fact that no lawyer is cheap, you probably can find lawyers who fit this description all over the price spectrum.

Here are some general rules to keep in mind.

There is no such thing as a "standard fee." Fee agreements are negotiable between clients and attorneys with some exceptions for when they are limited by law -- and are based on several factors, including the lawyer's overhead and reputation, the type of legal problem and what other lawyers in the area charge for similar work.

Occasionally, there may be a "going rate" that most lawyers in a particular locality charge for a certain type of job such as doing a trademark search, handling an eviction, filing a bankruptcy or preparing a living trust. But even when most lawyers charge about the same for doing a defined legal task, you'll have no problem finding lawyers who charge more and are apt to find one who charges less. This is especially true in parts of the country with a large surplus of lawyers, where they are searching for you just as hard as you are looking for them.

Cheap isn't necessarily a good thing. While everyone wants to save money, the cheapest lawyer is not necessarily the best, especially if your problem is complicated or specialized. A novice who charges $100 an hour may end up costing more than an expert who charges $225 an hour if the more expensive lawyer has much greater expertise and experience and provides better and more efficient service. If the case calls for a seasoned practitioner, the cheapest fee might lead to an expensive disaster. More>>>