Reducing Your Legal Bills

Now, why in the world would we be telling our clients how to reduce their legal-fee billings from us?

The answer is simple and direct: we want satisfied clients, and an important part of that, for many clients, is that we be as economical as possible in the services we provide, while not sacrificing the quality of work we strive to provide based on the level of effort you tell us is appropriate for each particular matter.

As our client, you have an important role in affecting the amount of our billables to you. Here are some tips on things you can do to help manage your legal fees:

• Give us your complete background file, if we request it, for our review, at the commencement of each assignment. Don’t “hold back” any documents that you feel are not important to the specific issue you are raising. Our legal training often allows us to spot issues and concerns that a lay person may overlook, if we have complete access to all background materials.
• Prepare a written outline or summary of what you need to have done, and why. It’s much more efficient and less costly than “dictating” to us.
• Clearly identify the priority and schedule you need. If you have an urgent matter requiring immediate attention, we’ll do our best to respond … but that might entail some additional costs.
• Make yourself available to accept and respond to our questions, proposals and other issues that might arise. Nothing drives up costs faster than an “unavailable client” who we have to call 3-4 times to make contact with.
• How much is it worth to you? In other words, tell us what you are willing to spend in an effort to get a good result, while recognizing that we cannot guarantee that. That will be an extremely useful guidance to us as to the nature and amount of effort we will undertake on your behalf. And, sometimes, we will say that the results you seek are unlikely to be achieved within the budget you set. Better to know that “up front” and act accordingly!

There’s more … and we’ll add additional thoughts on this subject from time to time. As always, your questions about “relationship issues” such as these are always welcome.

The information presented is not intended to be, and does not constitute, “legal advice.” Because each situation varies, and only brief summary information is provided here, you should not use this information as a basis for action unless you have independently verified with your own counsel that it applies to your particular situation.