Attorney fees: I'm curious what the lay public thinks is fair/outrageous

[Dueller]

Kind of an open ended question. But I'm curious what a lay person thinks about legal fees...either hourly rates or flat fees for specific services of an attorney.

I recognize that some lawyers really gouge clients. Even I am suprised at what some people have paid for something relatively simple...like a woman I talked to who has run up a $10,000 fee on a no-fault divorce: no kids, assets to be split in half, 4 year marriage, etc. I realize there can be some issues to be ironed out, but $10,000????? And they haven't coome close to finalizing it after 11 months????Sheeesh.

So...what is the range of going rates (either flat fee or hourly rate)for the following in your experience/area?:

Loan closing

DUI first

Simple assault/misdemeanor

Simple will/POA/Medical directives

Felony charge for non-violent crime (drug possession)

Felony charge for a violent crime

No Fault divorce where parties agree on everything essentially

Contested divorce/child custody/child support etc.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

This is a very touchy subject with the owner of the Porsche Independent I used to work at, good friends now. No one ever challenges legal fees, but he has hear "why did it take 2 hours to do X?" constantly.

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

This is a very touchy subject with the owner of the Porsche Independent I used to work at, good friends now. No one ever challenges legal fees, but he has hear "why did it take 2 hours to do X?" constantly.

You'd be suprised how often people challenge legal fees...especially on hourly rate cases. I've gone almiost exclusively to a flat fee for most criminal work short of major felonies/capital murder.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Would you mind giving him a call? I got a half hour earful the other day.

[Cdnone1]

My pet peeve is when I am billed an hourly rate to research a part of the law my Lawyer is unfamiliar with.
If I am paying $375 an hour for your services that should include money for your schooling. Going to a specialized Lawyer and then paying them to learn about their specialty drives me crazy.
That and I have a lawyer bill me 18 to write a document and then another 8 hours to review the document he wrote!

Steve

[Dueller]

Originally Posted by Shaun 84 Targa

Would you mind giving him a call? I got a half hour earful the other day.

Sure...when will you send my retainer? No bucks, no Buck Rogers

[Tidybuoy]

Let's see....I own a stock where the company recently filed BK. During the BK proceedings, the lawyers have had to post their fees before the judge in ordre to get paid.

Besides the top execs of the company getting paid outrageous salaries ann bonuses to run my company into the ground, the lawyers are getting up to $800 and hour for their "service".

I feel it's well worth it!

[cgarr]

I have had both, flat fees and hourly rates, flat fee (misdemeanor $2500) was when I was in trouble and the hourly rate ($195.00) rate was when I was going after an Insurance Company Claim denied. But for me the insurance deal ended up, they tried to bankrupt me to win so I didn't care what it cost at that point, I think my Atty thought I was nuts!

[daepp]

$375 an hour? Man, that must be a very good lawyer. I have quite a bit of luck in the sub-$200 world.

[MRM]

Up here, the insurance companies have panel counsel who handle cases between $115 and $135 for general insurance defense. Specialy insurance defense rates go up to about $200-$225 for coverage. Small business transactional/litigation work starts about $200 and goes up to $350 very quickly. Corporate rates at big firms start at a little over $220 for baby associates (but they don't let anyone get a $220 rate), most associates are in the $300 range, and $400 plus for partners. Family law starts at $200 for a newbie, and a minimum of $250 for an experienced lawyer. Most are in the $300 range. DWI/General Misd defense is about $1,500 to $2,500 flat fee for run of the mill DWI or Domestic Assault case and average lawyers. If you plan a trial it's about a $5,000 flat fee. Loan closings or house closings are a flat fee in the $750-$1,000 range.

Anything I'm missing? Want to know compensation structures and firm governance? I'm clues in on that too.

[RWebb]

yup

the higher rates are based on the market (e.g. big city), the experience of the attorney, and type of work

every bit of litigation work I do is scrutinized by a federal judge, so that can bring it down quite a bit

why are attorneys paid more than electricians?
- barriers to entry in the field
- recoup costs of the spendy law schools
- importance of the work (elec. can burn your house down, but attorney can "allow" ya to go to prison, be electrocuted in Ol' Sparky, lose all your money, etc.)
- support costs (legal secr.; research databases; nice office with paneling....)

usually, the comparo is to MDs but I wanted to choose a skilled trade...

BTW - with an MD you are pretty much guaranteed a competent person in the US -- not so with attorneys, so be careful

AND...
the real bargain in the US is to get the time from a top notch research scientist for nearly nuthin' - if you are at a research univ. you are getting some time from them to teach that class you (or your kid are sitting in)

[MRM]

Randy, I've been meaning to ask what kind of practice you have. I've done everything from prosecution to insurance defense - all litigation. I started my own firm in 2005 and represent mostly manufacturers of products used in the construction industry with some other odd stuff thrown in. Dueller has a well rounded general practice.

[ramonesfreak]

i recently had a client dispute a $500 fee after 1 year of litigation with a victorious result, earning them many many thousands of dollars. he says, "you hardly dun nuthin". seems to me, most people seeking my services have only half a brain

[gassy]

When my salary got cut in half back in Jan., the bill for my lawyer to file it with with the judge(for a reduction in child support payments) or whatever she did blah blah came to $1100...3 weeks later my old boss closed the company so it was all for naught. Grrr. Seemed a bit high to me but so it goes.