A common area for contention, between a client and his or her attorney, is the issue of bills. Often, clients have no idea what they are expected to pay for and attorneys often do not adequately itemize their bills, making it difficult for clients to agree to pay them. In some instances, clients have gone so far as to accuse lawyers of padding their bills. This article will discuss some strategies for dealing with common bill related problems that arise in client-attorney relationships.

If you are upset about your attorney’s fees, it is important to note the specific reasons why the fees are upsetting. One attorney stated that, “if a lawyer sends a bill with nothing more than a notation like: ‘32 hours @ $150/ hour =$ 4,800 now due’; you deserve more detail and should demand it”.

An attorney from Crowson Law Group gave the following advice for clients concerned with their bills:

-Scrutinize your bill - the client is advised to spend some time closely examining a lawyer’s bill. The client should compare the fee agreement to any itemized bill that the lawyer gives him or her. In the event that your lawyer does not give you an itemized bill, you should ask for one. If a client is paying by the hour, he or she should ensure that the lawyer is charging the agreed-upon rate. It is likely that your lawyer wrote down your fee agreement, therefore, you may insist that any ambiguities be resolved in your favor.

-Do not pay all or part of your bill - the client may not have to pay a lawyer who quits representing him or her before the trial, violates ethical rules or charges fees considered to be outrageous. ‘If your lawyer charged you for the time of two lawyers who did the same thing or charged for compulsively and unnecessarily organizing of files, insist that the bill be reduced to a reasonable sum’.  Crowson Law Group attorney stated that, “a client should never be afraid to ask about questionable or unclear charges. In some cases, the lawyer may offer to reduce the bill.”

In instances where there is a huge disagreement and the client cannot work out a compromise with his or her lawyer, another option is arbitration. Basically, arbitration is an out-of-court procedure for resolving disputes using a neutral outsider, called an arbitrator. Most states have voluntary fee arbitration programs that allow either a lawyer or a client to suggest arbitration.

In some states, including Alaska, California, New Jersey, Wyoming and Maine, arbitration is required for most fee disputes between lawyers and clients. Because arbitration is a requirement, it is called mandatory arbitration. 

Arbitration can be either binding or nonbinding. Binding arbitration means that you and your lawyer are bound by the arbitration decision and neither you or your lawyer can appeal it. An arbitration clause in an attorney-client fee agreement usually calls for binding arbitration. As a result, you give up the right to sue in court and have your case decided by a jury. This is an exchange for a quick, final resolution of the dispute. It must be noted that the state of Alaska provides an “impartial panel that hears the dispute and makes a final and binding decision based on the facts and evidence presented by the client and the attorney”.

For information about working with a lawyer, start searching for Anchorage attorney who values the attorney-client relationship.

About the company:
Crowson Law Group is a law firm of renowned professionals with a proven track record in the type of cases they handle and in the number of great attorney-client relationships they have created over the years. To find Anchorage attorneys with unquestionable work ethic, one of the law firms of choice is Crowson Law Group.