<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
panose-1:2 11 6 3 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ligatures:none;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style="word-wrap:break-word">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal">I, too disagree with the notion that mentioning rates is a violation of any antitrust statute. I would love to see the case or reasoning that says so.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Carmen Rowe<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, August 7, 2023 4:20 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] WSBAPT Re: What is fair billing<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Again responding off digest so am not including the original question - but long & short was question on how to bill when doing non-attorney work<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">I believe (?) there is a WSBA ethics opinion on this, and/or caselaw, and/or a RPC footnote - but confident there is something formal out there saying you can only bill commensurate with
the level of work, under the "reasonable fees" rule. So if you do paralegal work, you bill paralegal rate. Of course, there can be a lot of overlap in such work so it will come down to attorney discretion (and how they feel about what they are billing the
client). But I'd ised a stepped system - both to comply with ethics and because that is what is fair to the client. I instituted that for myself, though even at the firms with staff I have worked at, if I (or anyone) did "lower level" work, that's how it was
billed. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">I think the ethical restrictions go so far as to say purely administrative tasks should be considered part of doing business, and thus worked into the attorney's hourly rate, not billed
separately. I forget as it's been a while since I've seen that discussion, but I believe there is something out there on this. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">(And as a side-note, discussing hourly rate - perhaps even a detailed discussion on what tasks are billed other than as regulated by RPCs - is considered a violation of the Sherman Act.
I really super disagree with that in this type of discussion context given the tremendous range of attorney firms/experience/field of practice and how that all impacts rates ... but there is some formal opinion out there somewhere that says so, so I'd refrain
from being specific as to dollars)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif">Carmen Rowe<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"><img width="200" height="71" style="width:2.0833in;height:.7395in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/mail-sig/AIorK4yaIwO8NwDh1yJGQWP1qK1vhwcBcK5yYclhzfMrEc3GuEfI5eiJ-wA30feUaQTq_2U2bQPszU4"></span></i><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#660000;background:white">Phone: (360) 669-3576 (direct cell)</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#660000">Email:
<a href="mailto:Carmen@GryphonLawGroup.com">Carmen@GryphonLawGroup.com</a><br>
<br>
<b><span style="background:white">Olympia/Lacey and primary mailing office:</span></b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#660000;background:white">1415 College Street SE, Lacey, WA 98503</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#660000">Seattle office:
<i>We are currently moving our Seattle location - notice of new address coming soon!</i></span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#660000">NOTICE REGARDING OPERATIONS AND COVID-19:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#660000"> We see our community as working
together to address COVID and its impact on our lives, health, and business. The nature of our practice lends itself well to virtual operation and we offer a range of flexible solutions to best work with your needs and preferences. </span><span style="font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#660000">We
are here to support you. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#444444">Privileged and confidential:
</span></b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;color:#444444">This message is confidential. If you receive this message in error, please let us know, and please delete and disregard any information it contains. We thank you for
your respect in not sharing this email with anyone. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>