How can I check if the bill from my lawyer is correct?
May 29, 2022 | 70,00 EUR | answered by Ralf Hausdorf
Dear lawyer,
I recently received the bill from my lawyer and I am unsure if the costs were calculated correctly. I have reached an out-of-court settlement in a legal dispute regarding my employment relationship and have now received a bill for the services provided. The invoice lists various items such as consultations, drafting of legal documents, and conducting negotiations.
My concern is that I cannot exactly understand how the costs were calculated and whether all services were actually provided. I want to ensure that I only pay for the services actually rendered and not an inflated amount. Additionally, I have heard that there are certain legal regulations and fee regulations that govern lawyers' billing.
Could you please explain to me how I can review my lawyer's bill to ensure that everything was billed correctly? Are there specific indicators to look out for or documents I can review to verify the billing? I want to ensure that I am billed fairly and transparently and do not have to bear excessive costs.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Friedhelm Otremka
Dear Mr. Otremka,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the invoice from your lawyer in connection with your legal dispute regarding your employment. It is understandable that you are unsure and want to ensure that the costs have been calculated correctly. I would like to provide you with some guidance on how to review your lawyer's invoice to ensure that everything has been billed transparently and fairly.
First and foremost, it is important to know that the billing of lawyers in Germany is regulated by law. The relevant Lawyers' Fees Act (BRAGO) has since been replaced by the Lawyers' Remuneration Act (RVG). The RVG regulates the remuneration of lawyers for out-of-court and court activities and establishes certain fee rates.
In your invoice, the individual services provided by your lawyer should be itemized. These may include consultations, drafting of legal documents, conducting negotiations, and possibly correspondence with the opposing party. Each of these services has its own fee rate set out in the RVG. You can compare the individual items on your invoice with the corresponding fee rates of the RVG to ensure that the costs have been calculated correctly.
Furthermore, you should also check whether all services provided are actually listed. If you are invoiced for services that were not provided, you should clarify this with your lawyer and request a correction of the invoice if necessary.
It may also be helpful to compare the costs with other comparable invoices from lawyers to get a sense of whether the costs are within a reasonable range.
If you continue to be uncertain or have specific questions about the billing, I recommend contacting your lawyer directly. They are obligated to provide you with information about the services billed and to clarify any uncertainties.
I hope that these guidelines will help you in reviewing your invoice. If you have any further questions, I am at your disposal.
Best regards,
Ralf Hausdorf, Lawyer
