What Should You Do If Your Lawyer Overcharges You?

You should always ask your lawyer for a fee agreement in writing. Make sure you understand all the terms in the written fee agreement before you sign it.

All charges should be consistent with your agreement and detailed clearly in regular billing statements. If you have questions about particular charges, ask your lawyer to explain them. Charges often make more sense after a brief explanation.

You may want to have your bill reviewed by another attorney for fairness, but you may be charged a fee for that service. Some state and local bar associations offer fee arbitration services for legal clients.

Finally, nothing stops you from hiring another lawyer to resolve the matter, possibly through additional litigation.