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Question for anyone: if justice is fair and the system works, why are some lawyers paid so much more than others?

by noja 6y ago

lucozade 6y ago
Justice being fair isn't the same as saying that all justice is identical. If a lawyer works a case that takes a reasonable lawyer a day to complete, why would you expect the same compensation as a lawyer that works on a complex case for a year? That doesn't imply unfairness. It doesn't even imply capitalism.
- syshum 6y ago
  I dont think that is the claim... The claim is that on any given case you may find a lawyer that is $100 or that is $1,000,000 for the same case This is what creates the dual tiered legal system, if you can afford the High priced law firm, that has all the resources and talent to find every legal loop hole you win.. In the modern legal system, often times who ever has the deeper pockets wins.
  - noja 6y ago
    Exactly. Take, say, megacorp against mom and pop shop. No-one can claim with a straight face that the case would be equally fair to both sides.
csours 6y ago
> 'if justice is fair and the system works' Justice and The System only work fairly in so much as we make them work fairly. People have fought revolutions over this stuff. As for being paid well, lawyers may be considered primordial devops, dealing with the source code of society. It would make sense for there to be 10x law engineers.
tjalfi 6y ago
> Question for anyone: if justice is fair and the system works, why are some lawyers paid so much more than others? TL,DR - it's a market economy and legal fees vary due to supply and demand. Here are some of the factors that legal fees are based on, many of these are true for any professional services firm. Practice Area - Some types of expertise are rarer. Few lawyers, for example, specialize in smart contracts. Market Rates - Rates, like the cost of living, are higher in some regions. Market Position - How is the firm positioning itself? Are they trying for bottom of the market (Walmart), middle of the market (Trader Joe's), or top of the market (a boutique)? Peer Rates - What are other firms with the same market position charging for this practice area in this region? You don't want to leave money on the table or price yourself out of the market. Experience - Lawyers with more experience can charge more; there's only one David Boies[0]. Volume of Work - Customers who regularly use legal services can often negotiate a discount. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Boies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Boies
- noja 6y ago
  > TL,DR - it's a market economy and legal fees vary due to supply and demand. and so does quality. That's the problem. Take MegaCorp 5000 Incorporated TM versus Timmy's Homemade Biscuits. Say they go to court. Once side is paying their lawyer a thousand times more than the other. How can a fair trial occur here?

Question for anyone: if justice is fair and the system works, why are some lawyers paid so much more than others?

by noja 6y ago

Question for anyone: if justice is fair and the system works, why are some lawyers paid so much more than others?

Justice being fair isn't the same as saying that all justice is identical. If a lawyer works a case that takes a reasonable lawyer a day to complete, why would you expect the same compensation as a lawyer that works on a complex case for a year? That doesn't imply unfairness. It doesn't even imply capitalism.

syshum 6y ago
I dont think that is the claim... The claim is that on any given case you may find a lawyer that is $100 or that is $1,000,000 for the same case This is what creates the dual tiered legal system, if you can afford the High priced law firm, that has all the resources and talent to find every legal loop hole you win.. In the modern legal system, often times who ever has the deeper pockets wins.
- noja 6y ago
  Exactly. Take, say, megacorp against mom and pop shop. No-one can claim with a straight face that the case would be equally fair to both sides.

csours 6y ago

> 'if justice is fair and the system works' Justice and The System only work fairly in so much as we make them work fairly. People have fought revolutions over this stuff. As for being paid well, lawyers may be considered primordial devops, dealing with the source code of society. It would make sense for there to be 10x law engineers.

tjalfi 6y ago

> Question for anyone: if justice is fair and the system works, why are some lawyers paid so much more than others? TL,DR - it's a market economy and legal fees vary due to supply and demand. Here are some of the factors that legal fees are based on, many of these are true for any professional services firm. Practice Area - Some types of expertise are rarer. Few lawyers, for example, specialize in smart contracts. Market Rates - Rates, like the cost of living, are higher in some regions. Market Position - How is the firm positioning itself? Are they trying for bottom of the market (Walmart), middle of the market (Trader Joe's), or top of the market (a boutique)? Peer Rates - What are other firms with the same market position charging for this practice area in this region? You don't want to leave money on the table or price yourself out of the market. Experience - Lawyers with more experience can charge more; there's only one David Boies[0]. Volume of Work - Customers who regularly use legal services can often negotiate a discount. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Boies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Boies

noja 6y ago
> TL,DR - it's a market economy and legal fees vary due to supply and demand. and so does quality. That's the problem. Take MegaCorp 5000 Incorporated TM versus Timmy's Homemade Biscuits. Say they go to court. Once side is paying their lawyer a thousand times more than the other. How can a fair trial occur here?