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Law Practice,
Ethics/Professional Responsibility

May 30, 2024

Understanding client engagements and compensation structures

The fee agreement is a critical document when a dispute arises between a lawyer and their client. It outlines the scope of the engagement, the identity of the client, who is paying for the services, and how much they will cost.

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I am a collector of fee agreements. Admittedly, it's an odd hobby. When working as a trial counsel at the State Bar, I became fascinated by the many ways lawyers memorialize their client engagements. I've seen everything from the backside of a business card to detailed, small-font tomes that go on for 17 pages or more. I had plenty of examples, as the fee agreement is the first document investigators ask for when opening an investigation. The inquiry makes sense. The...

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