Are Retainer Fees Refundable?
It doesn't seem to spell this out in our contract. Just wondering. We'd love to fire our attorney. :-?
It doesn't seem to spell this out in our contract. Just wondering. We'd love to fire our attorney. :-?
The practical answer to that, I think, depends on several factors, including the reason why you'd like to switch attorneys and the $ balance left on the retainer after you subtract the $ amount of time the attorney has spent on work for you to date.
Suppose I were an attorney (which I'm not), and I had a client tell me:
"I really don't want you to continue to represent me because X, Y and Z, and I want you to refund the balance of the retainer I paid"
The last thing I would do (unless I hit the lottery and didn't need to work for a living) would be to refuse to refund the money to the client.
So I would ask your attorney nicely and give your reasons. Then take the money refunded and interview several attorneys before you hire the next one.
Thanks, Nancy! That's what I thought, and that's what I'll do.
If you have further problems the Attorneys Regulatory and Disciplinary Committee of your local bar association should be included on the cc list of your next correspondence with the attny.