Imagine you are a lawyer who has two clients with a similar problem that is in a new area of law. You have a case coming up for client 1. You spend 3 hours researching the law in this area. Client 2 has a similar case in three weeks.

Who should you charge the 3 hours of research to? Client 1, Client 2, Client 1 and 2, or split the cost down the middle?

Next month another client comes to you with a similar problem. Can you charge them anything for your research time?

Reference any cases or legislation as required.