Feb 10, 2012 · Question: I recently won a lawsuit and the lawyer who handled my case got more of the settlement than I did.He sprung a cost bill on me for $12,000 at the last minute. I almost fell out of my seat since he already took 40%. Since it is over $10,000, it seems to be over the Small Claims amount.
Dec 13, 2010 · I loved the law courses i took in college and recognized that it could do so much to help the common man, however my experience from the inside is many attorney’s are more concerned with maintaining their lifestyles and inflating their egos than justice.Sure their are a few good ones but they seem harder and harder to find these days.When i ...
Sep 15, 2019 · When you hire a lawyer, your chances of overpaying are considerable, according to one legal expert. “There is potentially 10% to 30% chance of …
Most law firms bill in six-minute increments. Protest if a firm wants to bill in 15-minute increments even when, say, only one minute is spent on your case. Photocopying rates. Some law firms charge as much as 20 or 25 cents per copy, which can really add up if there are thousands of copies. You should push for as little as 10 or 12 cents.
0:123:11How to get money back from a bad lawyer - #HereToHelpAZ - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe three main options are filing a malpractice lawsuit seeking disbarment or other professionalMoreThe three main options are filing a malpractice lawsuit seeking disbarment or other professional penalties for misconduct or applying for a refund through a client protection fund.
In case of misconduct by a lawyer, you can approach the disciplinary committee of the State Bar Council or the Bar Council of India. You can refer to Section 35 of the Advocates Act, which lists malpractices.Mar 25, 2013
Perhaps the most common kinds of complaints against lawyers involve delay or neglect. This doesn't mean that occasionally you've had to wait for a phone call to be returned. It means there has been a pattern of the lawyer's failing to respond or to take action over a period of months.
Some common signs of a scam include:Payment needs to happen quickly. You can't ask questions or get clarification.It's an emergency. Someone may threaten you or your loved ones.Requests for money usually happen over text, email or phone.The person contacting you is not someone you recognize.Mar 29, 2021
There's bad news your attorney doesn't want to deliver. If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.Mar 29, 2021
9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•Mar 17, 2021
Attorney misconduct may include: conflict of interest, overbilling, refusing to represent a client for political or professional motives, false or misleading statements, knowingly accepting worthless lawsuits, hiding evidence, abandoning a client, failing to disclose all relevant facts, arguing a position while ...
Formal complaint against [name of lawyer or law firm] describe what the lawyer had been hired to do for you [for example dealing with the sale or purchase of a house] • say when this was [give the date or dates when the problem occurred]. My complaint is that [list what you think went wrong or wasn't done properly.
Yes. You can get a second, or third, or fourth, or more opinions from as many lawyers as you want, EVEN IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A LAWYER. If you have a lawyer, you can go talk to a different lawyer in a different firm about your case.Apr 8, 2015
Most documents held by your lawyer that relate to the case are yours—ask for them. In some states, however, a lawyer may have some rights to a file until the client pays a reasonable amount for work done on the case.Jun 7, 2018
Throughout the process of getting your financial settlement after becoming injured, there may be periods of time that you do not hear from your attorney. Although this can be unnerving, it is a normal part of the legal process.Oct 25, 2018
You should never be afraid or feel like an intrusion to contact your attorney every three weeks or so, or more frequently if there is a lot going on with your health or other matters related to your legal case. There is of course a limit to how much you should be contacting or sharing.Jun 17, 2020
A simple flat fee (plus expenses), agreed to up front, is often best for the client — because it ensures that the cost won’t go over a certain amount . And lawyers often accept a flat fee for simple matters, such as uncomplicated wills or real estate closings.
Most attorneys bill their full hourly rate for time spent in transit for a case. Savvy clients ask that travel time be billed at half the attorney’s usual rate… or that the attorney be required to use travel time for which he bills you to work only on your case.
In order to apply for an assessment of your lawyer’s costs, you must do so within one year. This time starts when the bill is received, or when payment has been requested. It can also start after you have paid the costs, should you wish to have those costs reviewed.
The Costs Assessment Scheme is used to make sure that legal fees were reasonable, and comparative to the amount, and type, of work carried out.
There is an exception when the total costs are below the threshold of $750, not including disbursements. Unless the costs have, or are expected, to exceed this amount, a lawyer does not have to disclose costs.
There are certain jurisdictional limits regarding the maximum amount of damages that a person can seek in small claims court, such as $5,000.
Legal fees are the amount that an attorney charges for his or her services, such as by providing you with legal advice, preparing legal motions and appearing in court. Legal costs are other expenses that arise in your case, such as filing fees, postage and copying expenses. Make sure that this information is specifically spelled out in ...
Mediation is less like a trial and more like a discussion. Both parties appear before a neutral trained mediator. They may all be in the same room or they may be put in different rooms as the mediator moves back and forth. The goal is to reach a resolution that both parties are satisfied with without having to go to court.
Even if a local bar association does not offer a program, you may be able to arbitrate your dispute. This process usually involves one or more neutral individuals who are typically trained in arbitration and alternative dispute resolutions. The neutral arbitrators hear both sides of the case and make a decision at the end. Both parties usually agree to make the arbitrator’s decision binding. This process may be less expensive and less time-consuming than going to court.
Believe it or not, this happens to people on a regular basis. That’s why it’s always good to check your final hotel bill with a fine-tooth comb, whether it was slipped under your door or sent to your email.
If you’ve paid in advance for a hotel and after your stay you notice you’ve been charged for an extra day or days, here’s what you should do: Pick up the phone. “Call the hotel direct,” money expert Clark Howard says.
If you have to contact customer service, you want to keep your composure at all times. You may reason that if you show how upset the situation has made you, they will respond, but that may well backfire. Show respect and you’re likely to get some in return.
Clark says few consumers realize that if they’ve been overcharged or expectations for something fell short in some way, they can dispute it for a partial charge.
Clark says when it comes to paying the final balance on a hotel stay it’s very important to use the same form of payment you used when you reserved the room. “Never use a different form of payment,” he says. “If you want to get double-billed, do use a different form of payment.”