Reduce your legal fees??

This is so counter-intuitive to write this, but I am a consumer first and lawyer second. Well, actually, I am much more than those firstly, but between them, I will always be a consumer first.

I admit that I am frugal, maybe even cheap, but if I can save a few dollars, I will. Of course, I have to earn a living and billing my clients is how I do that. Like other "sales" out there, lawyers have ways of rewarding their clients with discounts. Sometimes I have specials for particular projects - like a new strata development, or with a particular realtor, or lender for a purchase or mortgage, or through an organization, like a networking or professional group.

Before wanting to save money, you have to understand our business and how we earn a living. We have staff and overhead. We buy services and pay things on your behalf. We have an hourly rate that matches our skill and knowledge and this is how we generally value our time. We know that we have to invoice a certain amount on each file to cover all of our expenses and then still earn a living. Needless to say, there is always room for negotiation.

Here are a few tips on how to save on legal fees:

BUNDLING: One of the best ways to gain a discount, is to bundle the services. (Shaw and Telus are on to something!) You buy a new home and do your will shortly thereafter - you will see a courtesy discount on my invoices.

REFERRALS: When we know that our clients have referred other people to us, sometimes we will send out a thank you card or small gift in appreciation. But, if you have legal need coming up, why not ask for a referral discount if you have sent us some clients?

FIXED FEE / FLAT RATE: Another way to ensure your fees are not sky rocketing is to ask for a fixed fee or flat rate. As lawyers, we cringe when we have to do this because it seems that every so often, when we do, that file goes on and on and on, and at the end of the day, the product that the client gets is worth so very much more than what they paid. In order to offset these files, we have to have a profit margin on all the others. I will consider flat rates on certain things, but usually have to ask more than just a basic question or two.

PRICE MATCH:  If you have a quote from someone else, ask your lawyer to match it. Maybe, just maybe, she can. I think the media slogan is "we will not be undercut". I will go pretty far to save a client and I think most of my colleagues will do the same.

It hurts to see money going out the door, but at the end of the day - I am a shopper and I get it. After all, we are but highly specialized sales people and you are the consumers. And sometimes a deal really is too good to be true and you must not forget that sometimes, you get what you paid for.

If your lawyer is not helping you, ask yourself why not.