OUCH! Sticker Shock! Just got my 1st

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
OUCH! Sticker Shock! Just got my 1st
7
Sat, 02-19-2005 - 2:04pm

atty bill ... I'm not complaining b/c i KNEW it would be expensive ... my atty is $350/hr. But i met with him the other day, about the filing, & i swear MAYBE i was in *his* office 30 min ... then i went to his assistant for all the paperwork. I still was charged a full hour with him - shouldnt it be based on how many minutes i am actually with him, & shouldnt i have been charged 1/2 his hourly rate? I dont mind paying the whole hour w/ the asst, i WAS with her an hour, AND she is only $130/hr! & the phone calls - YOWCH< they hurt too! Im not calling unless its absolutely necessarry! lol & he DID encourage me to use the assistants whenever possible, to keep the price down. I WILL do that.

I guess i will wait till the next time & really watch the time & see what they charge. Maybe its a mistake? Or maybe like anything over 30 min, maybe i was in there 32! & then it goes to a full hour?

Aye aye aye, i hope this is over FAST!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Sat, 02-19-2005 - 10:01pm
Ask if the time is rounded up, I worked for an attorney once and they charged in 15 minute increments. But don't forget you are also charged for any time he spends, so if he spent 30 minutes doing some research or preparing for your meeting, you get charged for that too. I think you may get charged if he spends time thinking about your case. What you should do is ask for an itemized bill and question any charges until you understand them and are comfortable with them. For example, they should be able to tell you he spent 30 minutes meeting with you, and 30 minutes working on preparing your case.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Sat, 02-19-2005 - 10:31pm

Yeah, thats what i sort of figured. Like he SPOKE w/ me for 30+ minutes & then may have spent 20 or so THINKING , lol, about it. I have to laugh ... sort of ... i spend my time at work, very often not THINKING about it - but DOING -life saving procedures, or at least interventions that are life saving ... & *I* get $30 an hour ....

eh, its the way of the world i suppose! :) Thanks! R~

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-13-2004
Sun, 02-20-2005 - 6:49am

Hi,


I know how you feel, and yes they do charge you for everything, every time you call them to ask a question,or they call you to tell you something, every paper that is typed,everything. My damn divorce has been going on for almost 2freakin years,and so far I have paid my lawyer over 4 thousand dollars,,I know my lawyer is asking for lawyers fees,but that does not help me now..I

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2003
Sun, 02-20-2005 - 8:54am

I know exactly what you mean..... I worked for a law office and was in charge of the billable hours. That particular office didn't charge a full hour for 30 minutes of work, but I know that there are some out there that "round off" hours..... it stinks.

I am surprised that they didn't ask you for a retainer though..... I was lucky, my retainer actually covered what my lawyer did, I only had to pay additional for the court transcript ( which happened to be like 99.00 ) But all else was covered in the retainer.

Good luck with everything, it is a lot of money, but well worth it in the end.

Hugs,

Angelena

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Sun, 02-20-2005 - 11:39am
I did pay a 5K retainer ... i guess this was just so i keep up to date on my charges. I just hate that its JUST the beginning & i have used 1/5 of the 5K retainer! R~

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2003
Mon, 02-21-2005 - 1:48pm

WOW...5K huh? I paid 1850 retainer. He was good too! I did have a lawyer in the beginning that did a lousy job and delayed everything that asked for 2500.00 retainer.

I wish I was a lawyer! ( I am actually going back to school for this )'

Good luck.

Angelena

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Mon, 02-21-2005 - 10:17pm
Yeah! I decided I am in the WRONG BUSINESS! lol Teh average retainer around here is apparently about 3500. I knew his woudl be higher ... hopefully it wont be too MUCH higher, in total, than that! Yikes! R~

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