Because a lawyer, unlike a doctor or a dentist, performs many professional services when his or her client is not present, the client is often unaware that the four-page document and the advice given in a few minutes are actually the product of many hours of work Also, the end product which the client sees is often the result of time spent by other persons in the lawyer's office, for example, a legal assistant, a law clerk or a secretary. When you engage the services of an attorney, remember that you may be hiring an entire law office to work for you. Since no two legal situations are exactly alike, the lawyer's fee will depend upon all the factors involved. After you have related the facts in your case, your lawyer will try to give you an estimate of the fee if you ask for one. In determining a reasonable fee for his or her services, a lawyer usually considers a number of elements, including the time spent, his or her experience, expertise and reputation, the responsibility involved, and the results obtained.
Time is the basic element in determining a fee.
A lawyecs remaining time is devoted to keeping up with new laws and old laws that are changing, taking courses or continuing legal education, attending bar association meetings, and volunteering in legal services programs. Just as a doctor charges more for a complex operation than for a routine one, if an experienced lawyer is better trained to handle your particular problem and is well-known as an able lawyer in a special field, he or she may charge a higher fee because the specific services offered are in special demand. In addition, the difficulty of the problem, the importance of the problem to the client, and the extent to which handling the problem will create a conflict for the lawyer or prevent his or her taking another case all constitute considerations in determining the fee. The Results Achieved. In some cases, the result itself may decide the fee.