Fee Disputes

Fee disputes are not normally handled within the lawyer discipline system unless a fee appears on its face to be clearly excessive. Most fee disputes are instead referred to the Louisiana Bar Association (a lawyer membership organization), which maintains a fee mediation/arbitration service. Many fee disputes result from a misunderstanding of the basis for the fee and the factors that went into the lawyer’s charge for services. Lawyers themselves can be at fault because of a failure to clearly explain to the client all aspects of the fee basis. Lawyers are at times reluctant to explain to their clients how much the services will cost, and clients are sometimes reluctant to question the lawyer on fees. This should not be the case. In any event, a fee misunderstanding does not usually constitute unethical conduct.

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