Our Terms Of Engagement Letter: Fill & Download for Free

I've never heard of this happening. Certainly, as lawyers become more in-demand, their rates tend to increase, and having high-profile clients certainly helps the cause. However, most lawyers only adjust rates on an annual basis (if that), and typically, those rate increases apply to new cases, not existing ones. For example, if someone hires me today, they'll get my 2017 “A rate”. If I increase my rates in 2018, I'll charge that rate for new cases, but I will continue working my 2017 cases at 2017 rates, just as my 2016 cases will be billed at 2016 rates, etc. I have a couple very old cases, for example, where my rate is roughly half what it is today, but a deal’s a deal.There are some lawyers who change rates for all cases every time their rates increase, but if that's a possibility, typically, it's spelled out in the engagement letter as something a client agrees to, e.g., “from time to time, we may adjust our rates as market conditions dictate, and we will notify you of such changes.” There really is no “bait and switch” if a client agrees that rates are subject to change, and if a client wants permanent rates, they should ask for them as part of the terms of engagement.

I have personally experienced such a situation.About 20 years ago, I needed some tax advice for our previous startup. We were beginning to sell to a fair number of international customers, and I wanted to discuss possible tax strategies.I set up intro meetings at three big local law firms. I met with all three, laid out the details, and discussed options in broad terms. I made it clear that I was talking to other firms, and with all three they promised to get back to me with some proposed courses of action and proposed rates. All three did so. There was no retainer paidI decided to go with Firm B. About a month later, I received a bill from Firm A for about $5000, un-itemized. I called them up and said "What's this?". They said it was the charge for preparing their initial proposal.I informed them in clear and uncertain terms that I had absolutely no intention of paying them an cent.They continued to send nasty grams for about a year.Needless to say we never approached Firm A again.

Some of these words have not been mentioned in other answers.1. AlmondIt's Ah-mund, not Aalmund.2. BuryIt is pronounced Be-ri, the same as berry.And not as Beu-ry.3. EliteEh-leet is correct. Eh-light is wrong pronunciation.4. DengueDengee ( 'gee' as in Geese) is the correct pronunciation for this word.5. DiphtheriaThe sound of 'ph' here is of the letter 'F'. So, its Dif-theria.Likewise, it is Ofthalmologist for Ophthalmologist.6. CacheCash is the correct pronunciation of this word.7. GnashIts Nash, 'G' here remains silent.Likewise, its Naw for Gnaw.8. GaugeGage (of Engage) is the correct pronunciation.9. AsthmaPronounced as Azma.10. ProbablyProh-bub-lee, where the 'bub' sound is given the least emphasis. Likewise, library is pronounced as Li-bruh-ree,Where the 'bruh' sound is given the least emphasis.11. RendezvousRon-day-voo is the correct pronunciation for Rendezvous.12. NicheIt can be pronounced as Neesh or Nitch.Neesh(US English)Nitch (British English)13. BassBase is the correct pronunciation of Bass, when we are talking about the musical instrument while Bass is correct when we are talking about the fish.14. Tombthe correct pronunciation for Tomb is Toom, like that of the word Boom.15. HeartIt's Haa-rt. Not, Hurt.16. ZebraThe sound of the letter 'Z' is 'Zee', in US English. So, Its Zee-bra.According to British English it can be Zeb-ra.17. ScheduleSked-jule is the correct pronunciation for this word. (According to US English)And Shed-yool( According to British English)18. WednesdayWhens-day it is. Wed-nuss-day is wrong.19. WomenWih-men it is, not Woo-men.20. Vide - it's Vee-day and not Wide!