[Question] I should have studied law.

[Master Electrician]

Yesterday, I received an invoice from my attorney.
Take a guess at his hourly rate?
What does your "man in a suit" charge?

[AndyD]

I assume it was you voted R2000.00+ per hour. Was this a high court case?

[Master Electrician]

Hi Andy,
This is before it even goes to court. Consultation, letters, phone calls, the usual.
I can't go into details, but this is an international firm of attorneys with offices in London, Jhb and CT and it is still undergoing some negotiation before it gets to court, if it ever does. This is what some of it is about:

No. 12 of 2004: Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, 2003.
Duty to report corrupt transactions
34. (1) Any person who holds a position of authority and who knows or ought
reasonably to have known or suspected that any other person has committed- 25
(a) an offence under Part 1, 2,3 or 4, or section 20 or 21 (in so far as it relates to
(6) the offence of theft, fraud, extortion, forgery or uttering a forged document,
involving an amount of R 100 000 or more, must report such knowledge or suspicion or
cause such knowledge or suspicion to be reported to any police official. 30
(2) Subject to the provisions of section 37(2), any person who fails to comply with
subsection (l), is guilty of an offence.

[Dave A]

Rates can be negotiated, but even then...

I had a lawyer once who managed to rack up over R5000.00 in billables to get a debt collection to summary judgement

The game was up when the defendant applied for recision on the grounds of not having received any notices. R5k in what was to then an undefended matter? A little suspect

[murdock]

the bottom line if you dont have some type od university degree and where not part of the inner circile...you will pay big dollars for their services.

because they are brighter than you...

the ting i love most about lawyers doctors etc you always have to be the sucker who has to sit and wait for them....and they charge you for the telphone call...letter...email...fax...try bill them for any of the above and see what a bit toffe they show you...try just charge for consumables and you will end up with a lawyers letter

[AndyD]

try just charge for consumables and you will end up with a lawyers letter

At R2000.00 plus per hour underwear could well be one of those consumables you talk of.

[murdock]

what can i say i shop at harrods london...the airfare and airport tax kills me

[Master Electrician]

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."
William Shakespeare (King Henry VI)

[Dave A]

"The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."
William Shakespeare (King Henry VI)

Good strategy for tyrants who want their way without argument

The bard was insightful, but relatively tactful. Try reading Machiavelli's The Prince.

[Jacques#1]

One of my clients is a very well known laywer.....


I CHARGE HIM

[Sparks]

They can be useful too. My quotes to property sellers have an acceptance form attached which authorises an attorney to pay me on receipt of a COC. I have written of too much bad debt. Without it signed and in my hand I will not touch an installation. Especially if the seller is a lawyer, doctor etc. I have a few in my books.