940181 | Office of Legal Ethics Counsel & Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri



Informal Opinion Number: 940181

Rules: 1.5;1.4(b)

Client-Lawyer Relationship

Fees

QUESTION: Attorney proposes to establish a fee schedule based on the medical model. The fee would be a set amount for each type of service with different rates for each service depending on whether the service was “brief,” “intermediate´, or “extended.” ANSWER: Rule 4 dash–1.5 does not prohibit such a fee schedule as long as the fees themselves are reasonable. Rule 1.4(b) requires that the meaning of the terms “brief,” etc. be adequately communicated to the clients.

Informal Opinions are ethics advisory opinions issued by the Office of Legal Ethics Counsel to members of the Bar about Rule 4 (Rules of Professional Conduct), Rule 5 (Complaints and Proceedings Thereon), and Rule 6 (Fees to Practice Law) pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 5.30(c). Written summaries of select Informal Opinions are published for informational purposes as determined by the Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri pursuant to Rule 5.30(c). Informal opinion summaries are advisory in nature and are not binding. These opinions are published as an educational service and do not constitute legal advice.

Request an Informal Opinion.