Q: Who do I talk to about unreasonable fees - my lawyer is blowing me off.
A:
A lawyer should be willing to discuss his or her fees with you. If the matter being handled is still proceeding, you may wish to tell him or her (in writing) that you need to meet and discuss the fees within 21 days or you'll find a new lawyer to finish the matter. If the matter is done, you may wish to tell him or her (in writing) that you won't pay anything toward the fees until he or she meets with you to discuss them. Keep records of each attempt to contact the lawyer about the fees and keep copies of anything you send him or her.
Bear in mind that legal fees are expensive. If the bill is outrageous you have the right to file a complaint with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, though before doing this I recommend having have a different lawyer look at the bill and get his or her opinion as to whether the bill is sufficiently high to justify filing a complaint.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
