As far as Maureen's fees are concerned - her reputation proceeds her. I think I would need to know more about where this information came from about her rates - as well as her billing practices. Is this word of mouth? Is this printed information that she passes out like marketing material? Is this the song and dance she presents to a client when quoting their charges? When scheduling consultations at the law firm I currently work at we do not disclose retainer costs over the phone. "Our consultations for family law cases are $100. During your consultation our client intake coordinator will review the details of your case and provide you with a retainer cost based on the complexity and details of your case." TYPICALLY our firm charges $4500 retainer for an uncontested divorce and $7500 - $18,000 for a contested matter. But that information isn't shared openly prior to a consultation. Our attorneys are worth every bit of the money that our clients spend. Rule 1.5(a) in the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct states that a lawyers fees must be reasonable. In determining what may be considered reasonable you would need to take into consideration time and labor, skill, fees charged in the area by similar attorneys, results, experience, and reputation. Rule 1.5(b) states that lawyers SHOULD explain the scope of their fees clearly, particularly when it comes to how clients are billed. Rule 1.5(c) states that lawyers MUST avoid overcharging clients by billing two clients