LAW 101: Hiring An Entertainment Lawyer – Know Their Rates (Part 3 – FINAL)

After you have asked the attorney all the necessary questions, as mentioned in PART TWO, by now you should have a clear idea of their expertise and at what degree they can serve you.  Now, it is time to figure out how much it is going  to cost to retain this attorney. 

Lawyer fees can start anywhere from $150 per hour up to $500  or more per hour. If the attorney charges $500 or more, they are more than likely a high-powered attorney who works for a large firm, which may be located in a large metropolitan city (i.e. New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles).  But, the average rate – even for a well-established entertainment attorney – only charges from $250 – $400 per hour.

Regardless of his or her rates, you should always do the following before your attorney start providing services:

1. Get A Cost Estimate – If he/she is preparing a standard contract document for you, the attorney should be able to give you an estimated time of completion. Lawyers prepare documents all the time. So,  your attorney should be able to tell you how many hours (and at what cost) it will take to prepare the document. On the flip side, if you have retained a lawyer for court proceedings or negotiation meetings, then it may a bit more difficult for the attorney to estimate a time frame.

2. Ask for Cost Updates – Lawyers should be willing to give you, in writing, how much you’ve incurred in costs. If you want, you can request that the attorney notify you when you’ve reached $1,000 or every $1000 incurred.

3. Be Prepared to Pay A Retainer – Many attorney’s require a deposit to be paid before they start working on your behalf. This deposit will be placed in a trust account. At the end of each month, the attorney will pay himself or herself for work done that month.  Ask your attorney if a retainer is needed, not all requires one. In addition, you will have to sign a retainer agreement. Please make sure you read it carefully before signing. A good practice is to take it home so you can think on it overnight. If the attorney has a problem with you taking it home to think on it, then that’s probably NOT the attorney you want to hire. No attorney should pressure you to sign anything.

Hopefully, we have provided you with enough information that’ll help in finding the best entertainment lawyer. There are many “snakes” out here. So, be safeguarded when soliciting the services of an attorney. Make sure the attorney is experienced, reputable, and are understanding of your needs as a client.

Good luck on your search!

Source: MusicConnection.com