One of the many good reasons to have a written retainer agreement is so that you have a clear explanation for what you will be charged for and how it will be calculated.
First thing to do if you have an issue with a bill, is talk to your lawyer. It may be an error or a misunderstanding that can be resolved quickly and easily between you directly, through communication and sometimes compromise.
Ignoring a bill is never a good idea because you run the risk of the lawyer sending it to collections and causing a financial headache later on down the line.
Often retainer agreements contain clauses that require all billing disputes to be resolved through fee arbitration often through the local county or state bar association.
If you’re not sure what to do, please contact your local lawyer referral service to see if they can guide you to a service or agency that can help you resolve this issue.