Flat Fees Are Here to Stay...Forever?

I announced on all my social media platforms, last September, that I would only be charging clients flat fees for my services until the end of 2023. I explained that I was doing so due to my deep desire to be able to help families with their legal issues without the ability to afford my services being an obstacle. And, that’s exactly what I did!

At the end of 2023, I was able to help many families begin the journey of being able to resolve their legal issues. One of the cases being a grandparent's rights case where I’m working to get a grandmother permanent (currently has temporary) custody of her grandchildren who have faced extreme abuse at the hands of their parents. It has been 5 months since I began work on the case, and as I sit here and reflect, I realize that If I hadn’t changed my payment structure, my client wouldn’t have been able to obtain my services. I am her second attorney after the first one withdrew from her case due to the inability to continue to pay for services.

When I was a young associate attorney of a law firm, I remember my managing attorney telling me that they chose family law because people will “break the bank” to protect their children. I soon left that position because that way of thinking didn’t sit right with me then, and it still doesn’t sit right with me now. Families shouldn’t have to break the bank or go broke trying to protect themselves and their children, and anyone who thinks they should, shouldn’t be family law lawyers. Period.

It is my firm belief that Family lawyers should improve families and leave them in a better place than when they were hired, not worse. This is my mantra as an attorney and I plan to not just talk the talk but walk the walk.

So, starting today, my firm will be making the full transition to flat fees ONLY! I know many of my counterparts may disagree with this model. They’ll tell me I won’t make any “real money” doing this structure as a private solo firm. They’ll say I should prepare to be taken advantage of by needy clients. My response to them is this:

Mind the business that pays YOU, and I’ll mind the one that pays ME!

To all my readers, please stay blessed and encouraged. I have more exciting things on the way. I promise!

-Attorney LEE