How can I take action against excessive legal fees?
August 30, 2023 | 60,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Schröter
Dear Lawyer,
I am reaching out to you with a question regarding attorney fees. Some time ago, I used the services of a lawyer to represent me in a legal dispute. Now I have received the bill and am shocked by the amount of the attorney fees. The lawyer has charged me an amount that, according to my research, is significantly above the usual rate. I am wondering whether these fees are justified and if there are any ways to challenge them.
For background information: I hired the lawyer because I was involved in a legal dispute that I could not handle on my own. The lawyer represented me both out of court and in court, and drafted various legal documents. I am generally satisfied with his work, but I find the amount of the attorney fees disproportionately high.
My concern is that I am not willing to pay so much money for legal advice and I am wondering if there are ways to address these excessive fees. I have already tried to discuss the bill with the lawyer, but we could not reach an agreement.
Therefore, my question to you: What can I do to challenge excessive attorney fees? Are there legal steps I can take to review or reduce the fees? I would appreciate your support and guidance on this matter.
Sincerely,
Wanda Zimmermann
Dear Mrs. Zimmermann,
I understand your concerns regarding the high lawyer fees and can understand that you feel shocked by your lawyer's bill. It is important to know that lawyer fees in Germany are regulated by the Lawyers' Remuneration Act (RVG). The RVG determines the amount of fees that a lawyer is allowed to charge for their services. These fees are based on the value of the matter, i.e. the dispute value or the value of the issue at hand.
If you feel that the lawyer fees charged to you are above the usual rate, you should carefully review the bill. Check if the value of the matter was calculated correctly and if the fees billed by your lawyer actually comply with legal requirements. If you have doubts, you can also request a cost breakdown, in which your lawyer details the services provided and how the fees were calculated.
If after reviewing the bill you still believe that the lawyer fees are too high, you have various options to address this. First, you can discuss the matter with your lawyer and try to find a mutually agreeable solution. If no agreement can be reached, you can also have the bill reviewed by an independent lawyer. They can provide a legal assessment and potentially negotiate with your lawyer to reduce the fees.
Furthermore, you have the option to file a request for review of the lawyer fees with the competent court. The court can then review the fees and, if they are indeed excessive, make adjustments.
In any case, I recommend seeking advice from an experienced lawyer specializing in fee law to protect your rights in this matter and find an appropriate solution.
I hope that this information has been helpful to you and I am available for any further questions.
Sincerely,
Ralf Schröter
