IDENTIFY PROBLEM FEES
Questions and Answers About Attorney Billing
Not every high attorney fee is unreasonable, but certain billing practices may warrant a closer look. Browse the questions and answers below to learn what to look for when reviewing your legal bill.
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Please note that we cannot provide legal advice or evaluate the legal merits of an individual matter.
QUESTION: How do I know when to question my attorney fees?
ANSWER: Take a closer look when a charge doesn't make sense.
Legal invoices often contain technical language, abbreviations, and billing practices that may be unfamiliar to anyone outside the legal profession. As a result, many clients assume the charges must be correct simply because they came from a lawyer. While every legal matter is different, there are several warning signs that deserve a closer look.
Vague Billing Descriptions.
A billing entry should provide enough information for you to understand what work was performed. Descriptions such as: Review documents, Conference, Research, Email, Prepare for hearing, or Work on case provide little or no meaningful information. Without enough detail, you cannot determine whether the time spent was reasonable or even necessary. Ask yourself: Do I understand what was accomplished from this description?
Repeated or Excessive Charges.
Some tasks naturally require more time than others, but repeated billing for the same or similar activity may warrant a closer look. Watch for entries showing multiple reviews of the same documents, repeated legal research on issues that should already be familiar to the attorney, or several professionals billing for the same meeting without a clear explanation. For example, if your attorney bills several hours to "review documents" week after week without identifying what was reviewed or why, it may be appropriate to ask for clarification. Ask yourself: Does this work appear repetitive or unnecessary?
Charges That Don't Match the Work Performed.
Not every task requires an attorney's time. Scheduling appointments, scanning documents, organizing files, making copies, or sending routine correspondence are generally administrative tasks. If those tasks are billed at attorney or paralegal rates, you should ask why. Likewise, be alert for charges that seem out of proportion to the task, such as a lengthy billing entry for a brief email or voicemail. Ask yourself: Does the amount of time billed seem reasonable for the work described?
The Bottom Line: An attorney's invoice is not beyond question. You have the right to understand the charges that appear on your invoice and to request an explanation for anything that appears unclear or excessive. Asking questions does not make you a difficult client - it makes you an informed one.