What Happens If I Don’t Pay My Lawyer?

What happens if you don’t pay your lawyer depends in large part on the reasons why you don’t pay them. What can a lawyer do if you don’t pay them depends on a few factors as well. 

Paying your lawyer’s legal fees is vital to the attorney-client relationship. You deserve competent legal representation, and your attorney deserves to be paid for their legal services. Unless your attorney agrees to represent you on a contingency fee basis, you will need to pay their legal fees upfront, on an ongoing basis, or according to a payment plan.

Many lawyers are willing to work with clients who are willing but unable to pay temporarily. However, if you fail to pay your attorney, they may take legal action against you for the payment of their fees and may drop you as a client. Therefore, it is wise to pay your lawyer according to the attorney-client fee agreement. 

There are usually a few reasons why a client does not pay their lawyer.

If a client does not have enough money to pay their lawyer, they should talk with their lawyer and explain their situation. Some attorneys will work out a payment plan with their clients. You also could consider borrowing money from a bank, a family member, or a friend to pay your attorney’s fees. Your attorney’s law firm may accept credit card payments as well. 

If none of these options are available to you, you may need legal assistance from local legal aid attorneys. The court is likely to permit your attorney to withdraw from representing you unless doing so would prejudice your case. Remember, the judge is also a lawyer and understands the importance of being paid. 

If a client is upset with their attorney or how the case is proceeding, they sometimes stop paying. This is more likely to occur in a civil case than a criminal case, as many criminal attorneys require upfront payment. However, some practice areas see this situation more than others. For example, family law lends itself to unhappy clients because of the nature of such litigation. 

However, if a client believes they are not working with a competent attorney, they may stop paying the attorney and seek new counsel. Therefore, it is always wise to be honest with your attorney and explain that you intend to terminate the attorney-client relationship. Remember, there can be consequences to not paying attorney’s fees. 

If you think, “I can’t afford my lawyer anymore,” don’t automatically assume you need to fire them. Instead, make an appointment to sit with your attorney and explain your situation. You may be able to find a mutually agreeable solution.

However, there may be good reasons to fire your attorney. Some of the most common causes include:

Good communication is essential to the attorney-client relationship and a successful outcome for your case. While your attorney is likely busy, they should return your messages within a reasonable amount of time or have a staff member reach out to you. Unfortunately, lack of communication is one of clients’ most common complaints about their attorneys. 

It is critical that you and your lawyer agree on a strategy for your case. Not being aligned on the legal strategy for your case can be a deal-breaker. If you can’t resolve this issue, you may need to part ways with your attorney.

Clients are likely stressed and emotional when dealing with their legal matters. Whether you are going through a divorce and custody litigation, a criminal matter, or another type of case, it may be one of the most stressful times in your life. Good attorneys are sensitive to that fact. However, if your attorney is inconsiderate or disrespectful of your feelings, it may be time to terminate your relationship with them. 

Likewise, if your attorney behaves in ways that make you doubt their competence, you may want to find another lawyer. You deserve to feel confident about your legal representation and don’t need the added stress of wondering if your attorney knows what they are doing.

Finally, if you believe your lawyer is unethical or has acted unprofessionally, it is best to terminate the attorney-client relationship. 

When you start to think, “I can no longer afford my attorney,” you may think that lawyers make so much money that they should cut you some slack on their fees. However, the amount of money a lawyer makes is determined by many factors. According to payscale.com, the average salaries for attorneys in the United States vary dramatically across the nation and across the different areas of law. 

Also, it is rare that your attorney personally receives every dime you pay them. They generally have to cover “overhead” such as office space, Internet access, computers, gas for getting to and from meetings, copies, secretaries, investigators, and much more.

Numerous factors influence the amount of money a lawyer earns. Some things that influence how much an attorney makes include:

It is vital to have a good working relationship with your attorney. If you are happy with your attorney but find that you cannot afford to pay them, make an appointment to discuss your situation. Many attorneys will try to work with you by setting up a payment plan or exploring other alternatives to take care of the matter. In criminal cases, the court may be able to help pay your legal fees — depending on your financial situation.

If you do not pay your attorney, they will probably want to withdraw from your case. The court is likely to allow them to withdraw except in rare circumstances, such as when to do so would prejudice your or your opponent’s case.