How do you charge?

[joywilder]

Hi all,

Recently, I've had a few inquiries to do *very* small Paralegal jobs (ie: typing up a motion, other typing work) for non attorneys.

I told the prospectives that I charge by the hour and that my timer runs by the minute - meaning if I work 15 minutes on the project they pay 15 minutes of time.

It seems that they just want me to give them a flat rate for such work, $X for a motion, etc.

How do you handle this type of small work? Do you charge by the hour or by the project?

Joy

[Right-Hand-Man VA Services]

Well, you could time how long it would take you to do each task and if it takes 15 minutes, quote them a quarter of your hourly rate. If it is going to take you an hour and they have 20 items for you every month, I set them up on a retainer with a discount.

[joywilder]

Darrell,

After I sent the post to VAF, I thought about timing myself for various small projects and establishing a project rate.

Unfortunately, the people that called me are for one-time projects. Of course, there is a potential referral through every small project

[HoustonVirtualParalegals]

I've just started creating a menu of items for a web store on my site that will allow clients to select a particular legal document that I will prepare for them for a flat fee, usually my hourly rate depending on the document. These are simple documents like Original Answers with just a general denial, simple deposition notices or other short forms of discovery.

Otherwise, for longer, more complicated pleadings and discovery I charge my hourly rate. My policy is a one-hour minimum, and I bill in 15 minute increments.

[dawndmd]

When it is drafting a document, it can be hard to determine the time it will take. It will so depend on the complexity of the litigation and so forth. I guess if they want a flat fee, if you think it is going to take at least an hour, $50.00, 2 hours $100.00. They don't realize the benefit of timing the project, but it appears they have the money to spend on a flat rate, so I would make the rate higher than usual in case it takes you a bit longer than you expect. I, for example, did a Motion to dismiss, notice, correspondence and charged a flat fee of $125.00. I made out because it only took me a little over an hour to do all. Dawn

[joywilder]

Everyone, thanks for the great advice!

One hour minimum, then bill in 15 minute increments for less complex work or by the hour for more complex work.

One person that contacted me wanted to pay me by the line?? Excuse me but a Paralegal does NOT get paid by the line LOL

[SimplyKath]

As a long-time legal administrator, in marketing my legal skills into the field I think I would charge a package rate rather than hourly. I pretty much can tell how long it will take to draft a motion, etc. and would feel mort comfortable at the package deal.

[alter3go108]

In our case, under the Philsupport we offer a package of "promo" $9/hr and we give an almost complete package including a free website.

[HoustonVirtualParalegals]

I'm getting away from the billable hour paradigm and changing my price structure to fee for service.

[VirtualHeather]

I have always preferred to charge "flat rates" with non-attorneys and even attorneys themselves. This for me is better because my research skills are better than a lot of people. So if I only spend 3 hours on Lexis looking up case law, while another person takes 10 hours to do the job, I will be hurting my invoice... This way with the flat rate it doesn't make a difference how long it takes you.

For example, if a non-attorney needs me to make a lead list of real estate properties and he wants say 200 with certain criteria on each, I charge $250 flat.

If a lawyer asks me to write up a complaint based on his research I would charge him $200-300 depending on the length of it. If he wants me to do the research also then it doubles. If he has the doc already done and needs me to proof it then I charge $100.

My fees are out of how I feel the job is worth. Do not let anyone under pay you and charges down to the minute are just too much for me. I could not be bothered with that kind of billing.