Michigan Attorney Fees

Michigan Professional Responsibility Rule

Lawyers in Michigan are allowed to collect reasonable fees. What are reasonable fees? The facts and circumstances of every case are going to dictate whether the attorney fees are reasonable. MRPC 1.5 provides that a fee is unreasonable where, a lawyer of ordinary prudence would be left with a definite and firm conviction that the fee is in excess of a reasonable fee. Among the factors that will be heavily considered are: The attorneys experience and reputation; the kind of work involved; how a case is ultimately resolved; and a comparison with other attorneys in the area who work on similar cases. As you can see, there is lots of wiggle room here in determining whether an attorneys fee requirements are excessive. That is why it is important for every person who is looking for an attorney to diligently review their retainer agreement before signing on the dotted line so that they have a clear understanding of what they can expect and what their attorney is, or will be, entitled to.

Retainer Agreement = Legal Contract

A retainer agreement between a lawyer and client is nothing more than a contract. If an attorney presents you with a retainer agreement that you consider to be unfavorable, you can always ask that its terms be modified. Of course there is no guarantee that the attorney will work with you in this regard, but it cannot hurt to ask.

Common Fee Agreements

Some retainer agreements require clients to be billed at an hourly rate. What that rate is, and whether it is reasonable, is controlled by the factors listed above. Other retainer agreements call for a contingency fee, i.e., the lawyer is not paid unless you recover in some capacity. These agreements are typically reserved for personal injury cases. Most attorneys enter into these arrangements asking for one-third of whatever is recovered on behalf of the client. Finally, many attorneys bill a flat rate, or, one-time payment for their services.

Contact a Michigan Attorney Today

Goldman & Associates has provided legal services throughout Metro Detroit for over twenty five years. We provide reasonable rates and attorneys fees for our services, and you can be sure that you will not be over billed for our time. Please contact us today for a free consultation and quote at 586-268-2400.

We can answer your questions aboutMichigan Legal Fees

Many people who enter into retainer agreements with their attorney do not know what the terms of that agreement are. It is important for these people to understand that a retainer agreement is nothing more than a contract for the lawyers services. The fees that a lawyer charges must be reasonable regardless of what the retainer agreement calls for and determining a reasonable rate must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Goldman & Associates is proud to provide top-notch legal services at a reasonable rate. Contact us today so we can answer any questions you may have regarding Michigan legal fees.