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"But the risks and rewards that the lawyer is balancing are their risks and rewards, which are not the same as yours." Otoh if you take away that "pay for time

by larrys 13y ago

"But the risks and rewards that the lawyer is balancing are their risks and rewards, which are not the same as yours." Otoh if you take away that "pay for time" aspect you end up with someone who might be likely to cut corners because they are being compensated in a way in which they are disadvantaged if they spend more time than they need to. After all you did also say: " They do not gouge too aggressively - after all they want future billable hours" so there is some "governor" on the process that prevents them from eating like a goldfish with unlimited food supply.

btilly 13y ago
"They do not gouge too aggressively - after all they want future billable hours" so there is some "governor" on the process that prevents them from eating like a goldfish with unlimited food supply. One of the things that you'll notice lawyers doing is throwing up a trial balloon by finding something to bill you for that you did not ask. If you don't push on that, you'll wind up on the "gouge" side of the equation. If you do push back on that, you've got better odds of winding up on the "maximize long-term returns" side instead. Both ways the lawyer is doing their best to eat as much as they can get away with.
- larrys 13y ago
  Totally excellent observation. I will add to that thought something that I observed in a completely different business with respect to pricing. Specifically pricing that is estimated and then needs to be revised when the job specs change. (Not programming by the way if it matters). For certain customers when you give them the new price they go nuts and have a hard time accepting even though you are right to bill them additional charges (for things they asked you to do or material changes). What this does to the vendor is make them really cautious about trying to charge for things lest they get that anger unleashed again. The "nice guy customers" on the other hand react like a gentleman and so you feel fairly confident in changing pricing liberally because they are so damn nice about accepting those pricing changes!

by larrys 13y ago

btilly 13y ago

"They do not gouge too aggressively - after all they want future billable hours" so there is some "governor" on the process that prevents them from eating like a goldfish with unlimited food supply. One of the things that you'll notice lawyers doing is throwing up a trial balloon by finding something to bill you for that you did not ask. If you don't push on that, you'll wind up on the "gouge" side of the equation. If you do push back on that, you've got better odds of winding up on the "maximize long-term returns" side instead. Both ways the lawyer is doing their best to eat as much as they can get away with.

larrys 13y ago
Totally excellent observation. I will add to that thought something that I observed in a completely different business with respect to pricing. Specifically pricing that is estimated and then needs to be revised when the job specs change. (Not programming by the way if it matters). For certain customers when you give them the new price they go nuts and have a hard time accepting even though you are right to bill them additional charges (for things they asked you to do or material changes). What this does to the vendor is make them really cautious about trying to charge for things lest they get that anger unleashed again. The "nice guy customers" on the other hand react like a gentleman and so you feel fairly confident in changing pricing liberally because they are so damn nice about accepting those pricing changes!