I'm happy to have a test case for my lawyer retainer program working well so far.
Background:As some of you know, I've been trying to work out the kinks in an attorney retainer system where a person pays a lawyer $50-$100/month for pretty much whatever they need that I'm competent to do (no copyright litigation or antitrust, etc) and doesn't involve a conflict of interest etc. The higher the monthly amount the less the insured pool (people with the policy) would be. So it's like dividing a candy bar 2 ways instead of 3: your piece is bigger. Also it would ideally depend on prior criminal record just like any other type of insurance. Unfortunately there are numerous problems to be solved with this system before I can really do it to scale.
I made one of these contracts last year as a test and finally got called on it. Fine. She paid me $60/month for one year for a total of $720. She had been arrested before/prior criminal history. There are a couple months left on the contract.
The point:Other attorney rightly pointed out that the legal fees alone would eat the case alive, swallowing all the money at issue and being rather expensive for both our clients. He was trying to get me to settle.
I merely smiled and said I was already paid in full for all services through a full trial. The look on opposing counsel's face was priceless. If I had 11 more like that I'd print a calendar. He laughed at first, mistakenly thinking I was joking. Then he realized I was serious. He couldn't even hide the shock. He was actually afraid, good. The bastard would actually have to work for this one rather than pressure me.I strongly suspect litigating this matter will easily cost his client, at his $355/hour rate, over $15,000 through trial. I'd say costing the other side $10K in litigation fees or pressuring them to settle very favorably with you for fear of those legal fees is a win in and of itself. Especially for the low fee of $720 and that's for more than just this. If anything happens to her in the next couple months I'll be there.
There are a lot of kinks left in this but if I can work it out, then I might have something here to both make me able to make a living in law, tell the large firm lawyers who look down on me to buzz off, and did I mention win in a whole new way?
Now to straighten kinks when the damn iron won't work.... [glares at iron].
From today's math class:
Professor (asking me): What do you call those instruments used by robbers to break into gates?
Me: Lockpicks?
[extremely long, uncomfortable pause in which the professor just kind of stares at me]
Professor: How do you know such terminology?
[offers hug if you're not feeling anxious anymore/having issues with that currently]
I love you hon.
hehehe