题干
选择题
Alternative Legal Billing – Win Strategies
Hourly billing is the best way to be charged for legal services. About 95 percent of lawyers still perform their legal work on an hourly basis. If you want something better than the old “bill by the hour” deal, try presenting one of these billing structures.
Project billing for routine issues
If your legal needs include large but repetitive tasks, consider a flat-fee approach. Once you get a project billing estimate, don't hesitate to shop around to compare prices and services with other law firms. A firm may provide a better deal if it expects future work from your company.
Results-oriented options
“Pay-according-to-success” is one choice. It considers fees based on the outcome of the case and the performance of your counsel. Contingency fees turn the matter into a shared risk or shared encouragement, making the law firm your business partner, not just representation.
Multi-layered tasks
If you're shopping for a firm for actual legal work involving a number of legal specialties, consider using blended hourly fees. The firm calculates in advance an “average” rate based on the anticipated time each lawyer spends on the matter.
This arrangement helps the client to avoid paying a senior partner's hourly rate for research that should be conducted by a junior associate.
Legal “Insurance”
The contract fee allows the client to pick up the phone and talk to the lawyer without needing to eye the clock. This approach works like a legal insurance policy. It encourages companies to contact their counsel on non-litigation, non-crisis matters, and to save money in the long run by engaging in more preventive legal action.
1. is the best way to be charged for legal services.
A. Results-oriented billing
B. Hourly billing
C. Flat-fee billing
2. A flat-fee approach .
A. is suitable for repetitive tasks
B. is useless
C. is the best choice.
3. make the law firm share your risk and encouragement.
A. Contract fees
B. Blended hourly fees
C. Contingency fees
4. Legal work involving a number of legal specialties should consider using .
A. blended hourly fees
B. insurance fees
C. hourly fees
5. You have to eye the clock when you talk to the lawyer when you choose .
A. legal “Insurance”
B. the old “bill by the hour” deal
C. a flat-fee approach
反馈
答案：1. B 2. A 3. C 4. A 5. B
解析：
1. 这是一道细节题。第一段第一句直接给出了此信息，紧跟着的第二句用数据（95%）来说明选用此结算方式占了绝大多数，所以选B。
2. 这是一道细节题。第二段第一句表明，如果你的法律需求是一些重复性的任务，考虑固定收费方式。所以选A。
3. 这是一道细节题。第三段第三句表明“胜诉费”（根据案件成功率付费）可以使得律师事务所与当事人共同承担风险，使得双方成为合作关系。所以选C。
4. 这是一道细节题。第四段第一句，如果你需要找的服务牵涉到多种专业服务，作者建议采用混合计费的方式。所以选A。
5. 这是一道归纳题。第五段第一句如果用保险费用的方式则不用眼睛盯着时钟看，回应第一段按时收费，推测出需要顾及时间来咨询的应该是按时收费方式，所以选B。