A Simple Legal Question...

[Anonymous]

What local gov't organization do you contact if you suspect your lawyer is attempting to charge you for things he shouldn't be? (I don't want to just not pay and potentially fuck up my credit or be dragged into court over it.) Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Cal the bar association in the state where the lawyer is located. Disagreements can be moderated; and if you feel there have been ethical violations you can file a complaint.

[Truth Searcher]

I would submit a letter to your attorney pinpointing the billing "errors".  Send it certified.  See if she/he is willing to address the problem.  That would avoid any credit issues ... if you have paper copy to prove that you were contesting the charges.

Then if there is refusal to address the bill, I would start with the Better Business Bureau.  Then perhaps your state Bar Association.

[Anonymous]

Thanks to both you for the input.

Truth Searcher, I seriously wonder if this lawyer would attempt to bill me for reviewing the billing discrepancies! I know that might sound absurd, but I received a bill for asking about the amount that I have to pay (which actually turned out to be wrong in the lawyer's letter b/c it didn't include arrearage) that was decreed by the court. What was in that letter was very unclear, not to mention poorly written.

I was also billed for inquiring about an appeal, although I can more readily understand being billed for that...

I think I'd rather avoid dealing with this person any further and just go to the bar association (or better business bureau) if that is a reasonable option...

I'll also add that I never had much of a rapport with the new lawyer I'm dealing with as this one was 'sent in' by my original lawyer due to a nearly fatal illness. The first time this new lawyer and I met was on the day of my divorce hearing....

[Anonymous]

Someone told me consulting the better business bureau about something like that would be a waste of time.

[Ursus]

I once filed a complaint with the BBB when I wasn't getting anywhere with a particular company after months of wrangling... It didn't do me a damn bit of good, cuz these people were such low life scum they didn't give a shit what the public thought, they were just out to make money quick.

But's that's it in a nutshell.  BBB are nice folk and they may be good to turn to if the company in question cares what the public perception of them is.  If they don't, forget it.

Attorney's are more concerned about what the American Bar Association will think about them.  And there is an arm of that that is used for handling complaints.  Look it up in the phone book, there should be a local number if you live in or near a major city.  And they should be able to point you in the right direction as to the appropriate venue for filing complaints, in case I've got my wires crossed and am not thinking straight tonight...

[Ursus]

I did get some wires crossed.  I meant to say State Bar Association, as in, whatever State you're in.

I should also point out that the State Bar Association will want to see that you have made "good-faith" efforts to resolve the situation before turning to them with your complaints.  So you probably should write a friendly but firm letter like Truth Searcher suggests, detailing what you believe to be billing errors, and respectfully request greater detail or explanation.  Save copy, of course, as well as response.  If you do not get a response, that is still a response.

What you want to do is be as fair as possible.  That is what we all would want, eh?  And that will go far in bolstering your case with the State Bar Association if this guy really is taking you for a ride, even though it may seem like it takes a lot longer at first.  Just make sure you save copies of all your good-faith efforts to resolve this.

On the other hand, even just receiving such a letter might be enough to get this guy to clean up his act and it doesn't have to go any further than that.  And lastly, what you perceive to be billing errors may, in fact, not be, and you will have lost nothing by your friendly but firm letter, and will feel a lot better about the whole thing.

Good luck!