Thomas Wade Young - Trials & Appeals

This article from the ABA Journal discusses strategies law firms are using to address the downsides of the billable hour. Some firms resort to discounts, while more nimble firms offer clever alternatives, such as flat fees by the matter or segment of representation. Although clients generally get what they pay for, clients who ask for a degree of certainty in terms of the attorney’s fees they are about to incur are not unreasonable. After all, clients have budgets, too. Bottom line: In order for legal services to be accessible to ordinary people, attorneys and clients should work collaboratively to create a fee structure providing the assurance clients need while allowing the attorneys to earn a reasonable fee.