How Do I Find a Raleigh Business Attorney Who Won’t Rip Me Off?
We get this question a lot and understand that it is perhaps the most important question you are facing now.
This is probably the question most people want to ask but don’t want to be impolite.
Yet it is an important question.
Here’s the deal, lawyers are just people.
Love’em, hate’em… we are people, just like you.
There are honest lawyers and, unfortunately, there are dishonest lawyers.
So how do you find an honest lawyer who will protect your interests and treat you fairly?
There are a few ways to improve your chances of hiring a straight shooter.
First, you should check the North Carolina State Bar website to determine whether the attorney was subject to discipline.
The State Bar maintains a searchable database that allows you to research any North Carolina attorney. It is an extremely valuable tool.
For example, you would likely want to know if the lawyer you are considering hiring was disciplined for, say, padding their bills or stealing their clients’ money.
Now that you have taken a moment to look me up on the Bar’s website, you know that none of our attorneys have ever been subjected to any professional discipline.
The reason why is simple.
We hold ourselves to the highest possible ethical standards.
Next, you should Google the name of the lawyer you are considering hiring.
When lawyers are sued by their clients or are accused of crimes, it frequently makes news. This is typically discoverable after a brief web search.
Social media also provides a window into whom it is you may hire.
If their profiles are public, what can you learn about them?
Are they sane (well, not everyone is)?
Are they conspiracy theorists?
Sure, you want to make sure you do not get ripped off, but you probably don’t want to hire a flat-earther either.
Another good place to research a potential lawyer is that attorney’s online reviews.
Is there a pattern of former clients complaining about the attorney’s billing?
Are there accusations of misconduct?
This kind of information is valuable in helping you to assess whom it is you want to hire.
Then there are the nuts and bolts of billing.
Review the attorneys’ website or ask the attorneys that you are considering hiring about how their billing practices.
You need to know what they intend to charge you for and how much.
This requires much more than just asking about the attorney’s hourly rate.
For example, most attorneys, those of Kurtz Law included, bill in six-minute (1/10th) hour blocks.
But beware, some attorneys bill larger blocks of time.
Billing in quarter hour increments is not terribly uncommon and there may still be some attorneys who bill in half or even full hour intervals, even though this is not permitted by the North Carolina Rules of Professional Responsibility.
Billing in larger blocks of time adds up fast and is unfair to the client. So be sure to ask in what block increments the attorney you are considering hiring bills their time.
Similarly, be sure that the attorney only bills court time proportionately.
If a lawyer is in court for two different clients at the same time and spends two hours waiting for the cases to be heard, each client should only be billed for one of those hours waiting.
Billing each client for the full two hours would result in that attorney reaping an unearned and unjust benefit.
Never hire an attorney who does not bill proportionately.
Maybe this should go without saying but you should not have to pay for your meals. Seriously.
There are attorneys who will bill clients for meals.
If we are talking about a working lunch where the attorney is actively working a case, they can charge for their time, sure, but not for the food they eat!
Hire a lawyer who pays for their own food!
Finally, all competent attorneys will insist that you secure their services with a written contract. Under no circumstances should you hire an attorney who does not require a written contract.
Read the contract carefully. It should address billing issues, how questions of fee disputes should be addressed, and it should set out each party’s responsibilities with specificity.
Lawyers draft contracts for a living. If the contract is unclear, makes you uncomfortable or if the attorney won’t answer your questions, find a different attorney.
If you want (or need) a safe place to talk about your issue (or current) attorney, reach out to us. We’ll take the time to listen and offer objective advice that could offer you hope, confidence and a lot of peace.
Click the button below to schedule a call with a Raleigh business attorney that will not rip you off.
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