WHAT DO YOU CHARGE FOR A LETTER?
THIS IS THE MOST OFTEN ASKED QUESTION OF A LAWYER. I am asked this many times weekly. I explain that it is the equivalent to calling a doctor over the phone and asking what s/he would charge for an appointment and to treat and cure you. A lawyer, like a doctor, needs more information to evaluate your medical or legal matter.
Unfortunately, most legal matters are not resolved with just a letter and I don’t want to take money from a client who can’t afford to see the case to conclusion. With today’s modern technology, a letter will result in an immediate response from the other party, or their lawyer, and if your client can’t afford to stay in the game why let them waste their money.
I believe lawyers should educate clients that the only thing a lawyer has to sell is time. Thus when a client (or the other side) calls or sends an email the lawyer is billing for that time. In other words the client has to be judicious in the use of the attorney’s time …and understand that the lawyer is billing in 10 or 15 minute segments.
Some lawyers are more ethical than others, and will quote a low amount for a letter retainer, to get their foot in the door. Later they demand a lot more money. There are “good and bad” in every profession and that is in part, why the AVVO legal rating system was created. It allows lawyers to rate one another on a 10.0 system. I am honored to have a perfect 10.0 rating.
An hourly fee on a Civil matter, and especially a retainer, are guestimates of billable time. Unfortunately there is no way to know what the other side will do. Sometimes upon receiving an attorney’s letter, the opposition will fold their cards, and we will simply prevail.
Other times the opposition hires an attorney and the paper battle begins. Some defense lawyers will “milk” cases and paper us by filing various motions. This causes all fees to escalate.
It is well known that there is nothing more expensive than Civil Litigation. Not only will it cost $600 to file a summons and complaint, but we may also need further funds to hire an investigator or serve the defendant. To prevent my clients from wasting money I suggest all clients write out a detailed summary before their first appointment. By doing that a lawyer is not charging a client to play secretary.
If the defendant does not respond we file, serve and get a judgment. If the defendant’s lawyer moves to vacate the judgment within six months we basically start over again.
I ask all prospective hourly clients “Who has more money……….YOU or the other party?” If the client is not as well off as the other side, I explain it may be difficult for the client to stay in the game against a “legal bully” and maybe they should think twice before hiring a lawyer.
Football season is upon us. Don’t Drink and Drive or Text. Call a Taxi, Lyft or Uber. It is a lot cheaper than having an Accident or DUI and calling me.
I look upon my job as protecting the Constitutional Rights of every American who drinks, drives and gets arrested for a DUI or has an Accident.
I do however “Change Hats” when I SUE Drunk Drivers for damages to my Injured or Deceased (Wrongful Death) clients.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE ARTICLE? CONTACT DALE GRIBOW 760-837-7500 OR dale@dalegribowlaw.com.
DALE GRIBOW
“TOP LAWYER” – Palm Springs Life-(DUI/PI)-2011-19
“TOP LAWYER”- Inland Empire Magazine Nov. ’16
PERFECT 10.0 AVVO Peer Rating
