re: Why are lawyers the worst to pay? What can be done?

Let me let let you in on a little secret. The absolute worst people with money I have ever met are all lawyers. Guys driving exotic cars, big houses, having fancy parties and then I find out they have $200 in the bank and live check to check. They have cash flow but just spend it as it comes in.

You have to make them want to pay you more than the next guy. But the frick out of them until they decide they would rather pay you off this month than the other guys in their stack of bills.

This is not typical. You hired a non-legit lawyer who can't pay his bills.

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imagine it would be very expensive and painful to sue a law firm, and they know it. Any suggestions?

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How much? It is NOT expensive to sue a law practice. And the last thing they want is to be in front of a judge they practice under, with an embarrassing case against them.
Plus, if you sue them and they are in the wrong, you get legal fees as well...ms. if they string it out, those fees, and possible other damages mount up against them.

They'll settle the day they are served

have your lawyer send a letter stating if the bill isn't paid in full in 30 days they will be sued and will be responsible for court costs and legal fees. Also go ahead and turn them into the bar. You'll be paid with the quickness.

Small claims court, the atty really doesn't want to go in front of a judge for an unpaid bill.

When they are served the papers you will get a phone call and the best part is you don't have to hire another atty and you get to charge interest on the unpaid debt.

I've done this before and the atty wanted to "work something out" for payment terms, I told him the terms were our court date was x-xx-xxxx and anything less than full payment before that date and I would see him there. He paid in full beforehand.

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Start adding late fees to the bill and see how quick they pay it.

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that will be like screaming you don't have a clue. Late fees wouldn't mean anything if you take them to court. To get a settlement from court for interest you would need a prior agreement to those terms. The problem with that advice is you're only trying to scare them, and they know it is meaningless.

Your only options are get a lawyer or nag and harass them on your own (or eat the loss). You should unfortunately get a lawyer and have the lawyer send a letter to them, probably including they will be sued for what they owe plus attorney fees.

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The answer to your dilemma is to threaten to file a bar complaint.

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If I’m not mistaken, this could be extortion.

I think you just need to file a bar complaint, and not use it as leverage.

You can send a demand letter stating a lawsuit will follow if the bill isn’t paid.

Blow their building up

Don't ask for legal advice from non lawyers. Lots of terrible advice and plain wrong info in here

1. Bar complaint - immediately
2. Find another law firm - go scorched earth and invoke every fee, interest, and other punitive measure allowed by law - do not settle - file suit and tell the new firm you want legal costs covered - take it to the max allowed by law - make it fricking painful for them.
3. Hunt them like an animal.
4. Tell future clients that are attorneys or law firms you need payment up front and then when they ask why, give them the name of this current firm.
5. Go to avvo or other online site where you can rate attorneys and offices. Go scorched earth.
6. Some things should be personal. They are being dickbags and affecting your income, which affects your family. Hunt them like an animal.