How do Attorneys Set their Hourly Rate & How Do Attorneys Bill for their Time?

              Attorneys who take retainers bill against them based on their hourly rate, which is calculated based on a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to, their experience, the rates of other attorneys in the same area of practice, and the costs of overhead.  Associates, paralegals, law clerks, and legal assistants may also bill at an hourly rate. The hourly rate that associates and staff charge is usually determined by whom they work for, or by the firm’s managing partner.

              Attorneys bill in six-minute increments to maintain accuracy, consistency, transparency, and fairness.  Every time an attorney or their staff performs work on your case, it is billable.  So, every time an attorney or their staff drafts a document or responds to a text, email, or phone call, that work is billable. The standard in most cases is 0.1 = six minutes. 0.5 = 30 minutes, and 1.0 is one hour.  Each time an attorney or their staff touches your case, it is billable by at least 0.1.