Opinion ID: 2506955
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Fee Agreement

Text: Prior to meeting with Respondent, Assistant consulted two other attorneys about her divorce, but was unable to pay the retainer fee they required. At their initial meeting on June 4, 2005, Respondent quoted Assistant a retainer fee of $1,500, but she informed him she could not pay that amount without an alternative arrangement. Because Assistant was not working during the month of June, Respondent suggested she come to work for him on a part-time basis to pay off the retainer fee. The parties did not execute a written retainer agreement. The terms of their verbal agreement were uncertain. Assistant believed she would be working the entire summer, while Respondent testified the arrangement was for her to work for two weeks to pay off the fee. On June 23, 2005, after two weeks of work, Respondent began paying Assistant a regular pay check. Shortly thereafter, he asked her to work for him permanently, and Assistant agreed. Over the next two years, Respondent represented Assistant in her divorce action and in alimony and child support collection efforts without requesting payment for the services.