Hacker News Reader

Comment by eli | Hacker News Reader

When I got my first real job at a small consulting firm, I was shocked at how many clients just refused to pay their bill. They didn't even really seem to have any specific reason for not paying.

Law firms were they worst. I guess because whaddya gonna do? sue them?

View on HN

Yeah, having seen some friends get stuck in that situation, I've decided if I ever get into contracting, I'm never starting out on a contract without the "you pay my legal fees if I have to sue you for collection" clause in the contract.

Once you've got that clause.. hey bring it on. Pay me or I'll just hire a buddy for my lawyer, have him rack up the bill and consult with him over a steak dinner.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I did not think that was possible(legal).

You can put anything into a contract. And in this case (client pays fees, including legal fees, associated with collection of invoices ... Or somesuch) it's certainly enforceable.

... unless you have to sue them for the funds to sue them.

I'm unconvinced that the "client pays legal fees" clause is really a sure thing. All the client has to do is make the argument on some other basis, and suddenly it's not a collections issue but a dispute over something else in the contract. In most states, each side will pay their own legal freight in such civil complaints.

I've personally been on the wrong side of it with some opportunistic a-hole lawyers and a 30-day late payment on my condo fees. Maybe it wouldn't have held up if I wanted to dump 5 figures to fight it all the way, but then that's the point, right? Once you threaten someone with legal fees, they're likely to get a lot more cooperative. Personally, I ate it rather than fight it.

My original mentor told me there are three types of clients never to work for: lawyers, doctors, and the government. The rationale: lawyers can sue you as easily as you can write code, doctors don't pay, and the government can impose a 7 year wait on any check they issue.

This is why you demand a percentage up front, before you write a line of code. If they aren't happy with this, walk away - they aren't sincere and you're walking away from a world of hurt.

Personally this is rule 1.

I never do work for law firms for this reason.

Yes but can you be sued for discriminating against lawyers?

Lawyers aren't a protected group. Just like men, white people, and rich people.

Having said that, don't be surprised if a lawyer massages his way into your building and trips on a wet floor and sues you for $50,000. That is their special talent.

Depends on your jurisdiction, in some places equality law specifically says you can't discriminate based on gender, race, nationality, etc. However I'm not aware of any equality law that includes professions, so you'll be fine

Reply on news.ycombinator.com