My lawyer charged me $5,000 for pre-trial preparation but the trial was postponed several months. Now it is about to go ahead again he has demanded another $5,000 for per-trial preparation, is this normal?

It's a civil suit which has gone on 4 yrs with several delays and a lot of money. After the last delay I advised the lawyer not to do anything else and apart from the introduction of two pages of documents and the opposing side moving for a summary judgement nothing else is new!

I do realize now through this experience that this is not about truth its about how lawyers and judges all keep getting paid. One files a motion the other has to reply, need some money think of something to file, delay a case and the lawyers have more time to think of something new and charge more. None of which a jury would probably even understand because when it comes down to the trial the lawyers are going to say to their clients "let's keep it simple so the jury understands"!

Thanks everyone for your help...

My lawyer charged me $5,000 for pre-trial preparation but the trial was postponed several months. Now it is about to go ahead again he has demanded another $5,000 for per-trial preparation, is this normal?



Yes - unusual but not "not normal." He has to bring himself up to speed again. Did any circumstances come to light that were not involved when the trial was postponed?

If he's only bringing himself up to date it seems high because he's already done the groundwork but I don't know the circumstances.

I agree with Judy on what she said.

I have one question here. This sounds like it is a civil suit. How long ago was this trial originally scheduled to be heard? If it was only a month or so ago, that price sounds a tad steep, but if the attorney put in more time due to new evidence or more depositions, etc. then it should be about right on. It all depends on what sort of civil trial as he may have spent numerous phone calls to opposing counsel trying to iron out a settlement or filed additional Motions to be heard by the Court. OR he could have an associate in his office going to try the case for him and the other attorney had to familiarize himself with your case.

Hello ch:

It's certainly proper to ask for an itimized bill. My lawyer sends me one like:

.23 hour on phone with client... $150
.10 hour dictation... $250
.24 hour legal reseach... $350

excon

Yes, the money paid like 5000 is normally a retainer, money that actual billing is applied against, so get a itemised bill of the charges.