Yes, We Can ' Raise Fees

This reasoning applies to lawyers and law firms, as it does to any other kind of business entity. A lawyer in any given area of practice at any given firm can charge for services at an hourly rate, a flat fee, a contingency fee, or a mixture of these and other billing methods. Moreover, the amount of those charges can vary widely. The only requirement, according to Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5 (“The Code”), is that “a lawyer shall not make an agreement for, charge, or collect an unreasonable fee.” The Code defines “reasonableness” by such factors as:

• The time and labor required;
• The novelty and difficulty of the questions involved;
• The skill requisite to perform the legal service properly;
• The customary local fee for similar services;
• The amount involved and the results obtained;
• The time limitations imposed by the matter; and
• The experience, reputation and ability of the lawyer.

What Is Reasonable?

Some of these criteria are relatively objective, particularly time required and customary local fees. But to a much greater extent, The Code's guidelines as to how to define a reasonable fee are directly related to the value that the client receives in terms of a lawyer's skill, timeliness, experience, reputation, and results.