About

Billed Fair is an independent information site about how lawyers in the United States charge for their work. It explains fee arrangements such as hourly billing, flat fees, contingency fees and retainers, the professional conduct rules that govern them, and the practical steps for estimating, checking and disputing a legal bill.

The site is written for people who are about to hire a lawyer for the first time, people comparing offers from several firms, and anyone who has received a bill they do not understand. Guides are organized into three areas: fee structures and cost drivers, estimates and hiring checklists, and fee disputes and official help.

We do not rank lawyers or law firms, take referral payments for steering readers to a particular lawyer, or publish invented price surveys. Dollar figures are illustrative examples with the arithmetic shown, and rules are tied to their official source, such as the ABA Model Rules, state bar programs or federal agencies. Practice-area guides, such as injury, divorce, bankruptcy or immigration cases, are covered only where they illustrate a general fee rule.

Nothing on this site is legal advice or creates a lawyer-client relationship. Fee rules vary by state and change over time, so confirm details with your state bar or a licensed attorney in your state.

How this site is made

Billed Fair is an independent information project. Guides are drafted with the help of AI writing tools and checked against official and primary sources before publication; see our Editorial Policy. We are not affiliated with any provider mentioned on the site and do not sell products or services.