Improper Legal Fees: Stemming The Ugly Trend

By Nonyerem Ibiam Esq.

The conduct of some lawyers has become worrisome as it relates
to the charge of professional legal fees.

There is so much confusion on the correct legal fees that
stakeholders in the legal profession agree that something urgent
needs to be done.

Some lawyers have been reported to be involved in many
unprofessional conducts when it came to legal fees.

Some of these infamous conducts include:

• Not charging enough for the appearance fee.
• Giving unsolicited legal advice.
• Receiving appearance fee in court.
• Undercharging to prepare conveyance instruments.
• Appearing to represent a client at detention facilities without
  charging upfront.
• Meeting and charging clients at beer parlours and pubs.
• Accepting sexual favours in exchange for legal services.
• Giving detailed legal advice without charge.

The lawyers who indulge in these infamous conducts not only
shortchange themselves but negatively affect the practice of other
lawyers.

Often, one meets clients who will quickly laugh in your face
when you tell them what you charge for your services.

Many of them are ready to tell you that lawyer X down the street
charges a fraction of what you are demanding for the same
services.

While many lawyers in Nigeria are waiting for the Bar leadership
to put a stop to the ugly trend, some experienced lawyers have
suggested ways to charge proper fees. One view is that charging
proper legal fees should start immediately you establish your own law office^[1].

Cliff  Nnanta Chuku, a PortHarcourt based legal
practitioner has stressed the importance of beginning your legal
practice on a good note.

According to him, when you start by charging high fees, your
clients will know that your services don’t come cheap.

Mr. Chuku advised lawyers involved in litigation services to
always make sure that the total agreed professional fees are penned
down in a document and signed before any process is prepared and
filed in court.

Many lawyers are so much in a hurry that they start to prepare
documents and court processes without a final written
agreement.

Some lawyer’s offices are filled with finished and unfinished
jobs whose owners have abandoned without paying a dime after the
lawyers have spent time and resources preparing them.

To avoid this kind of scenario Mr. Chuku advises lawyers to
always demand a deposit of about 50 percent of the professional
fees upfront to show commitment, and spread the remaining to be
paid before judgment is delivered.

Many lawyers fall into the error of giving detailed legal advice
once a client steps into their law office.

Statistics show that many clients who visit the lawyer’s office
for legal advice never return to perfect the brief.

Concerning legal advice, Mr. Chuku asks lawyers to tell their
clients that it will be best to do a written legal opinion on the
issue for a fee. He said the fee for the legal opinion should be
agreed upon before you write anything and attach your bill of
charges to it and deliver both at the same time.

Another problem some lawyers face when it comes to charging
professional fees is how to handle briefs from their friends and
family.

Village people, church members, friends, and family constantly
come to lawyers for one legal service or another.

Many lawyers find it difficult to properly charge for these
services for fear of endangering the relationship they have with
the client.

According to Mr. Chuku, the best way to handle briefs from
family and friends is to understand that legal practice is a
business from which profit is made to keep up with running costs
such as salaries, purchase of office furniture and stationery, and
other utilities.

Mr. Chuku sees clients who do not want to pay lawyers as
dispensable. He said lawyers should be ready to cut off such
clients as he/she does not want you to grow.

There is no doubt that lawyers are missing out on getting what
they deserve when it comes to professional fees.

There must be a coordinated effort by all stakeholders to teach
both old and new lawyers the art of charging proper legal fees.

If the ugly trend of undercharging continues in the legal
profession, the quality of legal services and practice will
continue to decline.

By Nonyerem Ibiam Esq.

The conduct of some lawyers has become worrisome as it relates
to the charge of professional legal fees.

There is so much confusion on the correct legal fees that
stakeholders in the legal profession agree that something urgent
needs to be done.

Some lawyers have been reported to be involved in many
unprofessional conducts when it came to legal fees.

Some of these infamous conducts include:

• Not charging enough for the appearance fee.
• Giving unsolicited legal advice.
• Receiving appearance fee in court.
• Undercharging to prepare conveyance instruments.
• Appearing to represent a client at detention facilities without
  charging upfront.
• Meeting and charging clients at beer parlours and pubs.
• Accepting sexual favours in exchange for legal services.
• Giving detailed legal advice without charge.

The lawyers who indulge in these infamous conducts not only
shortchange themselves but negatively affect the practice of other
lawyers.

Often, one meets clients who will quickly laugh in your face
when you tell them what you charge for your services.

Many of them are ready to tell you that lawyer X down the street
charges a fraction of what you are demanding for the same
services.

While many lawyers in Nigeria are waiting for the Bar leadership
to put a stop to the ugly trend, some experienced lawyers have
suggested ways to charge proper fees. One view is that charging
proper legal fees should start immediately you establish your own law office^[1].

Cliff  Nnanta Chuku, a PortHarcourt based legal
practitioner has stressed the importance of beginning your legal
practice on a good note.

According to him, when you start by charging high fees, your
clients will know that your services don’t come cheap.

Mr. Chuku advised lawyers involved in litigation services to
always make sure that the total agreed professional fees are penned
down in a document and signed before any process is prepared and
filed in court.

Many lawyers are so much in a hurry that they start to prepare
documents and court processes without a final written
agreement.

Some lawyer’s offices are filled with finished and unfinished
jobs whose owners have abandoned without paying a dime after the
lawyers have spent time and resources preparing them.

To avoid this kind of scenario Mr. Chuku advises lawyers to
always demand a deposit of about 50 percent of the professional
fees upfront to show commitment, and spread the remaining to be
paid before judgment is delivered.

Many lawyers fall into the error of giving detailed legal advice
once a client steps into their law office.

Statistics show that many clients who visit the lawyer’s office
for legal advice never return to perfect the brief.

Concerning legal advice, Mr. Chuku asks lawyers to tell their
clients that it will be best to do a written legal opinion on the
issue for a fee. He said the fee for the legal opinion should be
agreed upon before you write anything and attach your bill of
charges to it and deliver both at the same time.

Another problem some lawyers face when it comes to charging
professional fees is how to handle briefs from their friends and
family.

Village people, church members, friends, and family constantly
come to lawyers for one legal service or another.

Many lawyers find it difficult to properly charge for these
services for fear of endangering the relationship they have with
the client.

According to Mr. Chuku, the best way to handle briefs from
family and friends is to understand that legal practice is a
business from which profit is made to keep up with running costs
such as salaries, purchase of office furniture and stationery, and
other utilities.

Mr. Chuku sees clients who do not want to pay lawyers as
dispensable. He said lawyers should be ready to cut off such
clients as he/she does not want you to grow.

There is no doubt that lawyers are missing out on getting what
they deserve when it comes to professional fees.

There must be a coordinated effort by all stakeholders to teach
both old and new lawyers the art of charging proper legal fees.

If the ugly trend of undercharging continues in the legal
profession, the quality of legal services and practice will
continue to decline.