Your lawyer will want you to be satisfied not only with the service provided, but also with the fee you are charged. Candid discussions about fees and your ability to pay will avoid misunderstandings, while helping you decide if you want to retain the lawyer. Along with fair and competitive fees, lawyers strive to provide service at rates commensurate with the skill required and the results obtained. These typical fee arrangements are explained in the following section. Although exact fees cannot usually be determined in advance, the factors involved in computing charges are fairly standard.
Time is a basic element in determining professional fees.
For many matters, a straight-time hourly fee agreement will be arranged. Different lawyers value their time at different rates because of variations in experience, training, skills and law-office expenses. Most lawyers keep accurate records of time spent on each matter. Assistance from other lawyers, legal aids and clerical staff also affect costs. The amount charged in a locality for similar legal services.