At LEXSTONE AVOCATS, legal fees are established with the client's agreement. After discussing their needs in terms of legal advice and assistance, your firm defines with the client the main guidelines of the strategy to be adopted, whether the action is brought as a defence or as a claimant. The fee agreement formalises the agreement reached, specifying the purpose of the lawyer's services, the calculation of fees and the payment terms.
Registered with the Draguignan Bar, the lawyers at your firm provide the client with a quotation detailing all the arrangements relating to their case and the costs generated by the matter being handled. With complete transparency, your lawyers, Mr Josselin Bertelle and Mr Pierre Crépin, explain the criteria used to determine the firm's remuneration.
Lawyer's fees are estimated based on criteria such as the nature of the case to be handled, the reputation of the firm, as well as the client's financial circumstances. A straightforward case will be resolved quickly, whereas a complex matter, in public law as well as immigration law in Puget-sur-Argens, which may extend over time, will require greater mobilisation of resources and therefore higher remuneration.
The lawyer informs the client of the various costs not included in the fees (travel expenses, bailiff fees, expert fees, disbursements…), as well as the payment of advance payments at the beginning and during the handling of the case.
In the event of financial difficulties on the client's part, the lawyer may direct them towards the legal aid procedure, a form of financial assistance granted by the State to individuals whose resources are insufficient to take legal action. In any event, the lawyer ensures that you are not covered by legal expenses insurance, which could help reduce your costs.
Finally, the lawyer keeps the client's account statements up to date and regularly informs them of expenses and the need for advance payments.
Depending on the case handled by LEXSTONE AVOCATS, fees are calculated using one of the following methods. Payment is made in one or several instalments, according to the advance payments made at the beginning of the case. The final invoice takes these advance payments into account, whether the fees are calculated based on time spent or on a fixed fee.
Hourly fees correspond to the hours spent handling the case multiplied by an hourly rate agreed in advance. Fixed fees correspond to a fixed amount agreed to fully cover the lawyer's services. Finally, success fees are added to a base remuneration (fixed fee or hourly fees), with an additional amount paid depending on the outcome of the case — an agreement based solely on the result is prohibited by law.
A client who disagrees with a lawyer's billing has the right to challenge the legal fees. To do so, they must contact their lawyer to obtain explanations or supporting documents for the disputed costs, by sending a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.
If the response provided is not satisfactory, the client may refer the matter to the President of the Bar Association of Puget-sur-Argens or contact the consumer mediator for the legal profession. If no agreement can be reached, the President of the Bar Association will issue a decision within the required time limits. If this decision is not satisfactory, the client may challenge it before the First President of the Court of Appeal.