A Systematic Approach to Fees
To quote the right fee, you need to understand which structure best fits each client and situation. Yet most attorneys miss out on this opportunity because they lack a systematic approach to making this critical choice.
The decision hinges on one core question: How directly does your value depend on the time invested? When a client faces a potential business dispute, for example, simply sending a letter on your firm’s letterhead that resolves the issue delivers tremendous value, whether it took you 30 minutes or three hours to draft. Here, the value lies in your firm’s reputation and hard-earned expertise, not the hours spent writing.
Once you internalize this, you can confidently set the appropriate amounts, whether it’s a flat fee or an hourly rate. This is exactly the kind of strategic fee-setting we’ve been helping law firms master for over 20 years.
For the Right Fee, Timing Matters
Many lawyers make the mistake of quoting fees too early, which prevents client vetting and context-building. If a potential client asks about fees before explaining their situation, that’s a red flag. Instead, first assess their priorities and the stakes involved.
Second, clients can only properly evaluate your fees when given the right context. While law schools don’t teach this skill, the stakes of each situation fundamentally transform fee discussions. Your clients need to understand the true value and importance of your work before hearing numbers – otherwise, you’re just encouraging them to compare prices rather than quality of representation.
Our Solution
For twenty years, we’ve been helping lawyers confidently select, quote, and communicate fees that reflect their true worth.
And as a result, our clients stand firmer and get paid better. Use the intake form on this page and become the next one.
Get StartedFrequently Asked Questions
In our experience, most law firms undercharge and don’t test the market enough to see what they could be charging. We often recommend raising their hourly and flat fees for new clients right away, but we do this selectively, for the right kind of potential clients.
It’s not unusual for us to suggest incremental increases of 10–25% (or even more) within 3–6 months, depending on the situation.
This is designed for law firms in nearly any practice area that bill by the hour, flat fee, or a mix of both. And it’s especially useful for firms representing individuals or organizations where clients are billed separately.
Yes, we help firms navigate RFPs, especially when corporations negotiate lower fees for high-volume work. We can advise on competitive pricing strategies while protecting your profitability.
Some situations just don’t lend themselves well to strategic fee-setting. Take EPLI (Employment Practices Liability Insurance) cases, for example, where insurers typically select and pay the defense firm. If you’re that firm and the dynamic changes; you have less pricing leverage since the insurer controls the relationship. In these cases, our fee optimization guidance tends to be less impactful.