Tag Archives: Attorneys

Value-Fee Agreements – Issues for Legal Consumers and Attorneys to Consider

Posted on November 9, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Patrick J. Lamb posted an article on the Legal Rebels’ section of the abajournal.com website on November 7, 2012 titled: Prepping a Value-Fee Engagement Letter? Consider These 13 Issues First. He is a founding member of Valorem Law Group, author of Alternative Fee Arrangements: Value … Continue reading →

Posted in Billing | Tagged Alternative Fee Agreements, American Bar Association, Attorneys, Legal Consumer, Retainer Agreement | Leave a comment

Are State Bar Grievance Committees “Good Ol’ Boy Systems”?

Posted on October 19, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Every practicing attorney in the U.S. is licensed by one or more state bar associations, and those licensing entities have grievance committees that address ethics complaints filed against attorneys they license. What many legal consumers may not know is that … Continue reading →

Posted in Reform | Tagged Attorney Misconduct, Attorneys, Disciplinary Action, Disciplinary Complaint, HALT, Legal Consumer, Legal Ethics, News | Leave a comment

Reasons Big Corporations Fire Law Firms – Consumers and Law Firms Take Note

Posted on October 13, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Aric Press of The American Lawyer recently reported on a survey released by Acritas, a U.K.–based market research firm, detailing the reasons thousands of blue-chip corporations have fired their outside law firms. Acritas cited four recurring reasons: too expensive (21 … Continue reading →

Posted in Reform | Tagged Attorneys, Client-Side Manner, Clients, Conflict of Interest, Fee Disputes, Over Billing, Work Ethic | Leave a comment

$220K in Legal Fees to Fight 11-Year $2K Dispute!

Posted on October 5, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Does $222,000 sound like an unbelievable amount to spend on legal fees to fight a homeowner’s association’s lawsuit over a $2,212 bill for lawn re-sodding? That’s exactly what happened to a retired Tampa, Florida couple when they refused to pay the total … Continue reading →

Posted in Reform | Tagged Attorneys, Judges, Litigation, News, Scorched Earth | 1 Comment

Legal Consumer Tip #4 – Think Like a Lawyer

Posted on September 28, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

One of the best ways to effectively communicate with your lawyer, and to make sure your lawyer is hearing you and working toward your goals, is to put yourself in your lawyer’s shoes. Understanding how s/he receives your communications — … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips | Tagged American Bar Association, Attorneys, Bar Associations, Client-Side Manner, Clients, Ethics Opinions, Law Firm Culture, Law Schools, Lawyers, Legal Consumer, News | Leave a comment

Attorney Disbarred for Fee Ultimatum to Clients

Posted on September 21, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

The New Hampshire Supreme Court disbarred an attorney this week for giving an ultimatum to his clients in February of 2006: agree to his $2 million fee or he would not represent them in the mediation taking place that same … Continue reading →

Posted in Billing | Tagged Attorney Misconduct, Attorneys, Clients, Conflict of Interest, Disbarment, Disciplinary Action, Fee Disputes, Legal Ethics, News, Settlement | 1 Comment

Pressure to Settle: In Your Best Interest . . . or Your Lawyer’s?

Posted on September 7, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Last week, a Colorado jury handed down a more than $2 million verdict against a Denver law firm for pressuring a client, in a contingency fee case, to settle for less than it was worth. In her lawsuit, the client portrayed the firm as … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips | Tagged Attorneys, Clients, Conflict of Interest, Jury Verdict, Legal Consumer, Litigation, News, Settlement | 2 Comments

Caveat Emptor – Corporate Clients Need to Beware, Too

Posted on August 31, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

A corporate client filed a legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit on August 27, 2012 against the law firm and attorneys representing it in several securities class action litigations. The lawsuit includes allegations that the firm and attorneys … Continue reading →

Posted in Billing | Tagged Attorneys, Awareness, Caveat Emptor, Clients, Fee Disputes, Litigation, Over Billing | Leave a comment

Legal Consumer Tip #3 . . . Attorney Tip #1 – Attitude Matters

Posted on August 24, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

“Her ingratitude is unbelievable.” So says a matrimonial attorney, reportedly in practice for more than 50 years, in response to a client’s legal malpractice lawsuit. The lawsuit includes allegations that the attorney was in cahoots with her husband and reduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Tips | Tagged Attitude, Attorneys, Client-Side Manner, Clients, Legal Practices, Work Ethic | Leave a comment

Scott Turow Weighs In: The Billable Hour Must Die

Posted on August 14, 2012 by The Legal Reformer

Notable author, Scott Turow, wrote the cover article for the August 2007 issue of the ABA Journal, titled The Billable Hour Must Die: It rewards inefficiency. It makes clients suspicious. And it may be unethical. Interestingly, The Billable Hour Must Die has … Continue reading →

Posted in Billing | Tagged American Bar Association, Attorneys, Books, Clients, Conflict of Interest, Legal Consumer, Legal Ethics | Leave a comment