Legal billing can often be a complex and confusing process, leaving clients feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
However, with a few simple tips and strategies, you can navigate the world of legal billing with greater ease and confidence, while also reducing costs along the way.
1️⃣ Ask for a detailed costs estimate, including a spreadsheet to see how it was calculated: Before hiring a lawyer, make sure to ask for a detailed Costs Agreement and/or Costs Disclosure that outlines the hourly rate, any additional charges, and the estimated total cost. Sometimes lawyers will have relied on 'gut feel' or a template. Therefore, you should ask for a spreadsheet to minimise the risk you just receive a precedent or template that has not been tailored to your specific case. This will give you a clear understanding of what you can expect to pay and help you avoid any surprises down the line.
2️⃣ Communicate with your lawyer about costs: Regular communication with your lawyer is key to managing costs. Discuss your financial circumstances, budget and goals, and make sure to ask for regular updates on the status of your case and the expenses incurred. This will give you a better understanding of where your money is going and help you to make informed decisions about future expenses. Do not assume your lawyer will know whether you are rich or poor or in-between. If they do not know, they will not be likely to guess. They will just 'chug along', assuming you have the means to pay for any twists and turns in the case.
3️⃣ Consider alternative fee arrangements: Instead of traditional hourly billing, consider alternative fee arrangements such as conditional 'no win no fee' arrangements, fixed fees, or value-based fees. These arrangements can provide greater predictability and stability in terms of costs, and can also incentivise your lawyer to resolve your case more efficiently.
4️⃣ Be mindful of expenses: Expenses can often be a profit-centre for lawyers, where they charge much more than the cost of production. Avoid unnecessary spending on things like photocopying, by negotiating to do any photocopying yourself, with you then delivering the photocopied documents to the lawyers to use.
5️⃣ Challenge unreasonable charges: If you feel that a charge is unreasonable or unjustified, don't be afraid to challenge it. A good lawyer should be willing to explain their charges and work with you to find a mutually acceptable solution.
I frequently act for disgruntled clients who challenge their legal bills. This includes where it progress to a lawyer-client costs assessment at the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
By taking these steps, you can navigate the complex world of legal billing with greater confidence, and reduce costs along the way.
Revolutionizing Legal Costs: The Impact of AI in 2023
In my legal costs work, I see big changes coming with AI during 2023.
Doing this work, I am closely involved in drafting bills of costs and negotiating party-party costs for clients. This includes where I am retained by other lawyers to deal with the costs side of things after a hearing or trial.
With the advent of AI, many of the tasks associated with this work are becoming more efficient and automated, with the use of AI-powered e-billing software.
AI-powered e-billing software can automatically review and analyze legal bills, highlighting any potential overcharges or discrepancies.
This can significantly improve the accuracy and speed of cost assessments, making the process more efficient for both the lawyer and the client.
It can also assist in identifying patterns, trends, and outliers in billing data which can help negotiate costs.
One real-world example of this is the use of AI-powered e-billing software in identifying and flagging overcharges.
AI presents a big opportunity for costs lawyers to adapt and evolve our skills to stay ahead of the curve. Costs disputes have traditionally been maddeningly costly (pardon the pun), driving the ultimate client to despair after having already spent so much on the actual case. This is about to change big-time.
AI-powered e-billing software is the biggest advance in costs for decades and we have only scratched the surface.