What Am I Really Paying For? Understanding Attorney Fees

When people hire a lawyer, one of the first questions that comes up is: "How much is this going to cost me?" The answer isn’t always straightforward, and that’s okay. Legal work isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is the pricing. At Dankesreiter & Emmet, LLP, we believe transparency is key. In this post, we break down how fees are determined, when flat fees apply (like in estate planning or business formation), and why you might be better off with real-time billing in more complex matters. We also compare our approach with firms that bill in quarter-hour increments for a 2-minute phone call (spoiler: we don’t do that). If you've ever wondered what you're actually paying for when you hire a lawyer, this blog clears up the confusion.