Page 132 - The Circle of Life

will agree that you don't want to feel done in after the divorce but as I keep on

saying if you take this too far the lawyers make the money and you end up with
nothing more than what you could have had in the beginning.

This is a concern to me. There is no way in this world that I will not be
suspicious of the motives of some (not all) lawyers who built there so called

reputation on an unwillingness to settle. Are they chasing more fees or are they
acting in your best interests? Am I willing to take their word that it is all about

the client as they claim with boring regularity? No I am afraid not for I also note
the fancy offices and fancy cars and fancy lifestyle which come with the high

fees. To me that indicate a chase of money which is always above the interests
of the client for once in such a life style it is very hard to come down to earth

again. I must say to you that probably 90 percent of all lawyers do not suffer
from this disease or that I described above. Most are very decent men.

How do lawyers increase fees without you knowing it? Is very simple and

discussed in my free book Tricks of Trade - Memories of a Rogue Lawyer. Allow
me to quote to you again: "What is so special about law that no one can afford

it? After all it is not rocket science. I keep on saying no-one can afford a lawyer
and that is an injustice in itself for it means unequal treatment. Why are lawyers

so expensive? There is no real reason besides an imperfect system in my eyes if
not greed in certain cases. I understand the principle of professional men and

charging fees. I understand the many years of study to become a legal expert
but still something is wrong.

Let me explain in a general way how lawyers (by which I include all
professionals) work and I can hear them howling in outrage in the background

for it is not all of them. Let me rather say the unscrupulous ones and it happens

a lot despite the frequent denials from the law society which no-one believes
anymore. It also very hard to prove so you have to take my word for it as no-
one will admit to such behaviour for obvious reasons.

Padding

Any Law Office has different grades from partners (directors) to associates to
professional assistants to secretaries. All must and want to be paid at the end of

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