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Outside Counsel (lawyers) billing for service is so ridiculous

Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:59 am
Posted by sidewalkside
rent free in yo head
Member since Sep 2021
4157 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 8:59 am
Anybody else manage their companies outside counsel?

The scam (law firm they call it) they run is ludicrous. I can't tell you how many times I see a relatively "simple" question that they for sure already know the answer to turning into a 3+ hour billed topic and turn into a $1,800 answer. Because you know...the staff attorney has to review the email...then send it to the junior attorney to "research" and then his answer has to be sent back up the the staff attorney and then reviewed by the partner before sending it back and VOILA just like that all three guys got billable hours on the engagement. Crooks
Posted by theOG
Member since Feb 2010
10740 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:01 am to
Niche rant.
Posted by LSUnatick
South of Lafourche
Member since Jul 2008
1551 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:01 am to
Mitigating risk ain't cheap bro
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
88542 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:01 am to
Don't approve the invoice Feels pretty simple
Posted by sidewalkside
rent free in yo head
Member since Sep 2021
4157 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:05 am to
quote:

Don't approve the invoice Feels pretty simple
Lnchbox can't figure his way out of a lunchbox with his reasoning and logical repercussions assessment.
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
16106 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:06 am to
Why do they bother asking legal questions of a lawyer?
Don't they know that they can get those answers for free on Tigerdroppings?
Posted by Havoc
Member since Nov 2015
37155 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:07 am to
You should implement a “discount” billing policy where you pay lower fees but the answer will be more like “we think that’s the answer but aren’t sure or legally obligated to be correct.”
Posted by brewhan davey
Audubon Place
Member since Sep 2010
33271 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:11 am to
If you only rely on off-the-cuff advice without confirmation that it is, in fact, correct and current, you're facing a ticking time bomb.
Posted by RanchoLaPuerto
Jena
Member since Aug 2023
1734 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:11 am to
Not all lawyers or firms conduct business that way.
Posted by Jack Bauers HnK
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2008
6039 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:11 am to
They had to pay for malpractice insurance to stay in business and be able to give you the opinion you sought, on which you will presumably rely, and for which you would certainly sue them if their mistake cost you money.

If you want free advice, ask your questions here on TD.
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
35784 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:12 am to
quote:

I can't tell you how many times I see a relatively "simple" question that they for sure already know the answer to turning into a 3+ hour billed topic and turn into a $1,800 answer.


If they fly by night and give you an answer they’re “almost positive” is correct, it’s not, and then you sue them, they’re boned.

Even for things I know the answer to, I still pull and provide the statutory support, which takes time
Posted by Artificial Ignorance
Member since Feb 2025
1424 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:12 am to
Up there are management consultants.

In 30+ years, have seen my company pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to have our business and its information turned into slick / flashy story and fed back to us.

Shampoo, rinse & repeat.

Not them. Us. We allowed that.

Stupid.
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
88542 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:13 am to
quote:

Lnchbox can't figure his way out of a lunchbox with his reasoning and logical repercussions assessment.


Says the guy that apparently paid $1800 for a simple question
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
35784 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:14 am to
quote:

Says the guy that apparently paid $1800 for a simple question


That’s cheap
Posted by RanchoLaPuerto
Jena
Member since Aug 2023
1734 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:14 am to
A buddy of mine went in-house with a service company years ago.

First day on the job, the CEO walks in with this incredibly complex regulatory question.

My boy says, “I’ll look at it and get back to you.”

His response was met with a startled stare. The CEO then said:

“Mike, we hired the caterer and they brought the food. We hired transport and they brought the truck. When we hired you, we thought you were bringing the law. Where is it?”
Posted by N2cars
Close by
Member since Feb 2008
37867 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:15 am to
quote:

VOILA


Nah, you don't need outside counsel
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
35784 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:16 am to
quote:

“Mike, we hired the caterer and they brought the food. We hired transport and they brought the truck. When we hired you, we thought you were bringing the law. Where is it?”


Where did you read this made up story? Or was it in a movie?
Posted by Salmon
I helped draft the email
Member since Feb 2008
85352 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:16 am to
Consulting is the same way.

I used to see if I could bill 4 hours to a client for 10 minutes worth of work all the time.

Most of the time, they paid without questioning anything.

Now I'm on the other side of the table, I can see through their invoices pretty easily, but I know the game, and my company makes billions, so who cares.

Invoice approved.




Posted by biglego
San Francisco
Member since Nov 2007
82760 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:17 am to
That sounds like a startlingly ignorant CEO with no grasp of his field
Posted by biglego
San Francisco
Member since Nov 2007
82760 posts
Posted on 8/22/25 at 9:18 am to
Yeah it sounds like something from a movie
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