Our 20th Anniversary
Thanks to all our clients and friends

We've turned 20.  Thanks to all our clients and other friends.
And special thanks to our current and past employees, interns, and colleagues.
 

• Our central mailing address is PO Box 8, Great Falls, VA  22066
• The address for other deliveries (like FedEx, UPS, etc.) depends on which person or department you're trying to reach -- just ask.
• Our main fax number is (202) 499-7011
• Our main phone number is (703) 684-6996
• E-mail is always the best way to contact us:  Devil's Advocate

We get lots of questions (and complaints) about lawyers -- too many for us to handle personally.  Use this link for some ideas and access to some of our free or cheap tools:  Lawyer Questions?

And you can visit a free blog where we regularly post ideas about the legal system, legal fees, the business of law, and legal commentary with clients in mind:  Civilian's Guide to Lawyers (view the blog) or subscribe to new feeds:
 

Visit the "press room" for our most recent press releases here
 

DA is providing consulting services to support clients and law firms considering legal billing software, especially fee management software purporting to manage or review bills.  In addition to assessing the software's scope, DA monitors effectiveness against legal bills, as issued and reviewed by the software.
 

• DA has helped found Legal Fee Arbitration, LLC
• LFA provides expert arbitrators focusing on legal fee disputes
• Bar-sponsored and other arbitration services typically use lawyers and judges (ex-lawyers) as arbitrators
  • They're paid by the hour for their services
  • They may have a built-in bias favoring lawyers in a fee dispute
• LFA's procedures are streamlined for quick, cost-effective resolution of fee disputes
• LFA fees incorporate an independent review of the bills
• LFA arbitrators are already legal fee experts with many years of experience
• Visit www.LegalFeeArbitration.us

Given the renewed popularity of alternative legal fees, DA has been tracking any new developments to advise law firms and clients considering a change from hourly billing.  There is no such thing as a perfect alternative legal fee -- each has its pros and cons.  There are also sham alternatives that are designed to increase the client's risk and cost.

DA can review and design alternative fee proposals and monitor their performance for common problems and cost-effectiveness.
 

• John Toothman is quoted by The New York Times
  For Legal Fees, It’s More of a Buyer’s Market, D. Jacobs, SPG2

• John Toothman & Douglas Danner, Trial Practice Checklists 2d (3 volumes)

• Look for Legal Fees: Law & Management from Carolina Academic Press, by John Toothman & Professor William Ross
• Also available through Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com
• More information, including a copy of the Preface, is available here.

• Attorneys with substantial litigation experience, accountants, paralegals, and clerical staff are potential employees. 
• Contact DA for information