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Are “Flat Fees” For Legal Services Okay in California?

7/15/20

By: Greg Fayard

Many lawyers in California charge their clients “flat fees.” That is, immigration lawyers, criminal defense lawyers, bankruptcy and estate planning lawyers, and patent lawyers all routinely charge “one price” for all services, regardless of the time it took the lawyer to do the work.

Under the old rules of Professional Conduct for California lawyers, if a lawyer received a flat fee, the rules were silent on where to put those funds—the lawyer’s trust account or operating account? Under the current rule, Rule 1.15, flat fees MAY go into the lawyer’s operating account.

Flat fees over $1,000 can go into the operating account provided the lawyer discloses in writing that the fee MAY go into the client’s trust account until earned and the client is entitled to a refund of any amount that is unearned.

If the lawyer does not have this disclosure in writing, which the client must sign, flat fees over $1,000 MUST go into the lawyer’s trust account.

Fortunately, the California State Bar has ethics guidelines to help lawyers determine what part of a flat fee is earned and when. For those California lawyers who charge flat fees, please read Rule 1.15 to make sure you are in compliance.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Greg Fayard at gfayard@fmglaw.com, or any other member of our Lawyers Professional Liability Practice Group, a list of which can be found at www.fmglaw.com.