Billing at $11,000 an hour

I tried, but I can't add anything to this post from the WSJ law blog. This lawyer website is unlike any lawyer site I have ever seen.

Landscape suit against the City of Chesapeake settles for less than a penny on the dollar

This article summarizes the settlement between Virginia Turf Management Associates, Inc. and the City of Chesapeake regarding a grass mowing contract Virginia Turf alleged it lost because of conspiracy and bid rigging. The case was originally filed in 2000, and after many fits and starts was set for trial in June, 2007. The suit originally sought $77 million, but the case settled for $250,000. Chesapeake spent over $1.4 million in attorneys' fees.

Pay Scale for solo practitioners

I found this site with a survey of pay scales for solo practitioners in several states and major cities. The survey actually has much more, such as average vacation weeks, billing rates, etc. However, it's an interesting and realistic look at one side of practicing law in a small office.

More hefty bills for justice

Another article reporting on the high costs of justice for localities who employ private attorneys. This time, rather than appointing a special prosecutor from a surrounding locality, Appalachia hired attorneys from Norton to prosecute the corruption and election fraud case. The attorneys estimated that their fees will total $150,000 even though they are "compensated by the Virginia Supreme Court at a rate of $90 an hour." If we subtract $10,000 for reimbursement for costs, the case took approximately 1,600 man-hours. The former mayor was enventually convicted and will serve two years in jail along with another two years of house arrest for "[buying] votes with beer, cigarettes and even pork rinds."

Hefty legal bills for representing locality

This article highlights the large legal bills incurred by localities, in this case Virginia Beach, for outside representation. Without a doubt, Hunton & Williams provides exemplary representation to the city, but it comes at a cost, almost $600,000.00 to date, that may surprise citizens.