Comments on: Another large firm lawyer goes solo – and it’s all about the [lower] rates

By: ProSeThoughts

ProSeThoughts — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 21:35:23 +0000

WOW! All I can say is WOW! Now I understand why law firms turned down my case and said it’s too complex and I don’t have enough money. I had no idea how much law firms charged. I guess I’ll be a pro se litigant through all three of my cases.
No wonder small businesses back down in Defense contracts. The large companies can afford lawyers, lobbyists, politicians and judges. I have seen all that in my cases up against six lawyers, JAG, Air Force, large corporations and high-profile defendants (at least for our city).
I’m shocked at the hourly rates. It’s also no wonder Americans can’t “buy” justice.

By: Jeff Donner

Jeff Donner — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 08:16:02 +0000

Exactly.
My rate at Holland & Knight (Miami office) way back in 2003 (when I was just four years out of law school) was $250. That was before the latest round of huge Biglaw increases in salaries and billing rates. Had I stayed at H & K, my rate today would be around $315 or so, I’m guessing.
Today, as an independent practitioner with 8 years of experience, my standard rate is the same $250 that Biglaw is charging for 2nd-year-lawyers. My clients get Biglaw-junior-partner work for Biglaw-junior-associate prices. Everybody wins.