Comments on: The Bar Goes After A Contract Attorney For Overbilling - Hypocrisy Or The Right Move? http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/ The Life of a Contract Attorney in Temp Town, Washington D.C. Sat, 17 May 2008 16:50:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Edward Smith http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-502 Edward Smith Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:19:15 +0000 http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-502 Personally, I think we should start turning in the law firms....and you all know what I mean. Personally, I think we should start turning in the law firms….and you all know what I mean.

]]> By: Scott http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-434 Scott Fri, 08 Feb 2008 13:45:59 +0000 http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-434 There is no excuse for cheating or fraud. Period. However, neither is there an excuse for any law firm to pay their "contract attorneys" $35.00 per hour but turn around and bill the client 7x that amount. And, it does not matter that law firms "have to make a profit". If they cannot make a reasonable profit with the usual mark-up of 3x the salary, they are mis-managed. And, if the "contract attorney's" REAL worth to the client is $210-$240 per hour, then the "contract attorney" should receive, as his or her pay $70-$80 per hour. The fact that the law firms choose to "hire" the "contract attorneys" through an "agency" is beside the point. That is how the law firms have chosen to organize their business ... they don't have to use outside agencies to do their hiring for them. And, if they do, the cost of using those outside agencies must come from the law firms' profit pool, not out of the "contract attorneys'" wages. There is no excuse for cheating or fraud. Period.

However, neither is there an excuse for any law firm to pay their “contract attorneys” $35.00 per hour but turn around and bill the client 7x that amount. And, it does not matter that law firms “have to make a profit”. If they cannot make a reasonable profit with the usual mark-up of 3x the salary, they are mis-managed. And, if the “contract attorney’s” REAL worth to the client is $210-$240 per hour, then the “contract attorney” should receive, as his or her pay $70-$80 per hour. The fact that the law firms choose to “hire” the “contract attorneys” through an “agency” is beside the point. That is how the law firms have chosen to organize their business … they don’t have to use outside agencies to do their hiring for them. And, if they do, the cost of using those outside agencies must come from the law firms’ profit pool, not out of the “contract attorneys’” wages.

]]> By: noman http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-275 noman Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:34:22 +0000 http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-275 Staffing Agencies falsify candidate credentials. (<a href="http://temporaryattorney.blogspot.com/2008/01/sacre-bleu-foreign-language-document.html" rel="nofollow">view link</a>) Staffing Agencies falsify candidate credentials. (view link)

]]> By: Split Decision http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-269 Split Decision Wed, 09 Jan 2008 22:08:31 +0000 http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-269 I agree with your comment that "there are much bigger fish to fry among the denizens of the large law firms where overbilling is a frequent way of life." Contract attorneys make on average $35 an hour. That's hardly anything compared to what they're billed out to the client (which I'm assuming is over $150). Associates and partners overbill all the time - that's the nature of the business. So, I don't really understand why they'd go after this contract attorney for a few thousands of dollars, when associates and partners overbill frequently, which probably costs the client way more than what this contract attorney overbilled for. Having said that, I think contract attorneys do have an ethical obligation to try to bill as accurately as possible. What this contract attorney did was blatantly egregious...however, I don't think they needed to resort to suing the contract attorney. Like you said blogger, it's major hypocrisy...Firms, associates, partners - they all overbill. Who's watching them, and keeping them accountable? In my opinion, I think it's about time that contract attorneys get paid more. The pay has been stagnant for too long, as JDWired mentioned. The people who are pocketing the most from contract attorneys are the firms and the agencies. I think there's a serious imbalance there. Is there any way to get rid of the middlemen?? Or, is that impossible? I agree with your comment that “there are much bigger fish to fry among the denizens of the large law firms where overbilling is a frequent way of life.” Contract attorneys make on average $35 an hour. That’s hardly anything compared to what they’re billed out to the client (which I’m assuming is over $150). Associates and partners overbill all the time - that’s the nature of the business. So, I don’t really understand why they’d go after this contract attorney for a few thousands of dollars, when associates and partners overbill frequently, which probably costs the client way more than what this contract attorney overbilled for.

Having said that, I think contract attorneys do have an ethical obligation to try to bill as accurately as possible. What this contract attorney did was blatantly egregious…however, I don’t think they needed to resort to suing the contract attorney. Like you said blogger, it’s major hypocrisy…Firms, associates, partners - they all overbill. Who’s watching them, and keeping them accountable?

In my opinion, I think it’s about time that contract attorneys get paid more. The pay has been stagnant for too long, as JDWired mentioned. The people who are pocketing the most from contract attorneys are the firms and the agencies. I think there’s a serious imbalance there. Is there any way to get rid of the middlemen?? Or, is that impossible?

]]> By: JDWired http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-262 JDWired Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:32:33 +0000 http://www.myattorneyblog.com/the-bar-goes-after-a-contract-attorney-for-overbilling-hypocrisy-or-the-right-move/#comment-262 Associate salaries are approaching $200K and CA hourly rates have remained stagnant for years. But the way to effectuate change is definitely not by stealing. I have a lot to say about this -- offline! Associate salaries are approaching $200K and CA hourly rates have remained stagnant for years. But the way to effectuate change is definitely not by stealing. I have a lot to say about this — offline!

]]>