Hiring lawyer, billing

Fråga:

Hej, this is actually a question about working with a lawyer. I hired a lawyer regarding an ‘överklaga’ of a neighboring building plan. The details don’t matter but after two meetings I felt I need to find a better lawyer, since he did not seem competent at all in the matter. He did not seem to have read any of the documents between first and second meeting and all his comments in the meeting were very general. Result is that between engaging and terminating the assignment, 10 hours accumulated at a rate of 2800SEK/h. He sent me an invoice with just the hours, no explanation of when they occurred and what the hours were spent on, it just says ‘reading into the case’. I understand that in the end I just need to pay, but is it normal that there is no need to justify the billable hours in an invoice? Shouldn’t he provide more detail on when and how the hours were spent, and document the work done (e.g provide his notes taken in the 10 hours?). I’m sorry these are native questions just want to get a feeling what is an expectable level of transparency and accountability in this profession. Thanks

Besvarad av:

Sandra Jona

Juridisk rådgivare

Sandra Jona är juridisk rådgivare som stöder nystartade och växande företag i frågor som rör företagsstrukturer, ägarförhållanden och incitamentsprogram. Hon leder Legalbuddys erbjudande och arbetar med Legal Tech-initiativ inom Legal Works-gruppen.

Visa profil

Thank you for reaching out with your question! Below is an explanation of the relevant rules and how you can proceed in your situation.


What are the rules regarding lawyers' billing and transparency?

Under Swedish law and the ethical rules set by the Swedish Bar Association, lawyers must provide their clients with clear and detailed information about the work performed and the associated costs. Invoices should specify the tasks completed, the time spent on each task, and the dates or approximate periods when the work occurred. A vague description like "reading into the case" without further details is generally insufficient.

Additionally, the fees charged must be reasonable in relation to the complexity of the case, the time required, and the result achieved. Transparency is key, and clients have the right to request a breakdown of the hours billed and a summary of the tasks performed.


How does this apply to your situation?

In your case, the lawyer's invoice lacks sufficient detail, which makes it unclear whether the billed hours correspond to the work performed. While lawyers are not obligated to provide internal notes, they must explain how the hours were spent. It is reasonable to request a detailed breakdown of the work performed during the 10 hours billed. If the lawyer fails to provide this information, you may have grounds to challenge the invoice, especially if the time billed seems excessive for the work done.


Summary and recommendation

To address your situation, we recommend you request a detailed invoice: Ask the lawyer for a breakdown of the tasks performed, the time spent on each, and the approximate dates. If you have not already done so, formally end the engagement in writing to avoid further billing.If you need assistance with drafting a formal request or challenging the invoice, there is a template in Legalbuddy Plus. Also, you are welcome to book a coaching call with one of our legal experts.

[email protected] +46 76 307 24 98

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