Editor’s Note: Every Monday, Jeff Allen offers you a tip about what you should do to ensure you never miss out — or get beat out — of your well-earned fee.
What Client Says:
The fee’s too high.
How Client Pays:
Recruiters laugh or get angry at the “fee’s too high” position. But courts will arbitrarily reduce placement fees in the name of equity (fairness) unless there is a written, signed, or otherwise fully accepted contract introduced into evidence.
The reason for judicial fee reductions is the mindset of judges and juries. The vast majority of judges were “low-billers” when they practiced law. They’re security-conscious, status-conscious, conservative types who have opted for the benefits of government work.
Juries are usually blue-collar types. If they’re employed, their employer is paying for their jury duty. If not, they’re either unemployed or retired. Like judges, they’re not risk-takers, and certainly don’t understand why five-figure placement fees are such a bargain.
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If you’re gonna laugh, laugh last.
And don’t get angry, get even. Get paid – in full.
