Paying For Legal Services Why should you pay for legal services unless you are satisfied with the work performed by the attorney? Marshall Fields had it figured correctly a century ago: the customer is always right. Similar to any retail or commercial trade, the lawyer has to trust the integrity of his client. I do not provide my services as an attorney without expecting to be paid. Being a lawyer is how I generate income to support my family. I take seriously and I am financially dependent upon the adage that a lawyer's time and advice are his stock in trade. I expect every business client to begin our professional relationship by demonstrating to me that the client is capable of paying for legal services. That is why you will give me a reasonable deposit in an amount that we anticipate will cover all or most of the cost for the services that we have agreed I will be performing for you. That deposit will be placed in my client trust account for your protection. At the end of each month, I will send you an itemized statement detailing the services performed for you during that month, and disclosing the exact amount being transferred from the trust account to my law firm's operating account to pay for the services provided to you. If you object, the transferred funds will be returned to the trust account pending our resolution of the reason(s) for your dissatisfaction. Remember, if you are not satisfied with my effort, then I will not be paid for the services provided to you. My business can succeed long term only by building my success upon the goodwill of satisfied clients. Helping You Make Money For the services that I provide you, I will expect to be paid at the hourly rate of One Hundred Seventy Five dollars ($175.00). That seems like a lot of money to me, but it is about average for attorneys in this area, and somewhat below what most attorneys with my years of experience are charging clients. I try to be conscientous about charging you for legal services. Attorneys often become an expensive proposition. However, a good attorney will not cost you money but instead save you money. Remember it makes sense to spend one dollar to make two dollars. The services an attorney provides you should do just that --- make you money rather than costing you money. There is no other reason to be in a for-profit business except to turn a profit. That's my job, plain and simple, to help you turn a profit and for that help I expect you to pay me for the services that I provide you.