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Coffee with Claire #41 – Commonly Asked Questions Blog Series

December 26, 2018

What goes into an attorney’s fee?

Writer’s note: This blog series is meant to act as responses to “quick” questions you may have for attorneys.  Think of these answers as a “quick” answer you might receive over coffee from your friendly neighborhood attorney.

 

This question, “Why is THIS your fee?” is perhaps my second most frequent question asked after, “Why should I hire an attorney?”

There are many reasons for why an attorney fee is what it is (and each attorney must decide for themselves based on their own criteria), but here are some big parts to the fee:

1. Number of years an attorney has been an attorney. You will usually pay more for a more experienced attorney.


2. Attorney’s own fees. We’re business owners.  Just like plumbers, mechanics, psychologists, or interior designers, we have fees that come from providing our services, including:
   
   
   
   1. Our office space costs us something.
   
   
   2. Malpractice Insurance. If a client doesn’t like how we did something, they can sue us.  Like doctor’s malpractice insurance, this can be very expensive.
   
   
   3. Registration/professional fees. We have to pay to be members of the Minnesota bar.  We have to pay the Minnesota State Supreme Court to practice in the state.
   
   
   4. Continuing Education. We are required to have a certain number of continuing education credits every three years.  Important so we stay on top of legal issues, but can also be expensive.
   
   
   
   


3. Practice Area. Different practice areas (criminal, family, bankruptcy, personal injury) have different pricing and client expectations for price.
   
   
   
   1. Client’s ability to pay. If your attorney works primarily with lower income individuals, they’ll probably charge less.  Same if the attorney works with high income individuals, likely a higher rate.
   
   
   
   


4. Case complexity. If you case is simple and straight-forward, your attorney may charge less.  If your case involves multiple areas of law, or multiple locations (jurisdictions), or multiple parties, your attorney will likely charge more.

If you have questions about a divorce or custody proceeding, estate planning, or probate please contact Claire Tralle to set up a free initial telephone call.

 

The information in the Coffee with Claire series are intended to provide information only.  No legal advice is being provided or implied via this blog post.  No attorney-client relationship is formed by providing this information.  An attorney-client relationship with Tralle Law, LLC is formed only after a retainer contact is signed by all parties.