Before entering private practice, I spent more than 14 years with the State Bar's Ethics Hotline. Each year, the hotline would tally incoming calls to determine which ethical issues were raised most often. Each year, the most common issue concerned fees for legal services. This is not surprising.
Legal fees are an important, yet delicate, subject for both attorneys and clients.
Attorneys are expensive, and often clients do not understand and dispute the amount, basis or value of an attorney's fee. There are numerous ethical and civil requirements regarding legal fees and fee agreements. In my experience, many practicing attorneys are not fully aware of these requirements. Attorneys who do not comply with fee requirements do so at their own peril. They face an increased risk of attorney-client fee disputes, loss of earned fees, and malpractice and disciplinary complaints.