I own a good-sized legal support service firm. My firm serves subpoenas, files pleadings, etc. I have run into situations where an attorney has been paid for services and the services are then contracted with my company, but then the attorney will not pay me. Some of the services have been depositions or service of process, and then are unpaid. Does this violate the Rules of Professional Conduct?
Lawyers, like everyone else, have to pay their bills. This is particularly true of bills for a service provider, such as a court reporter or people who are serving subpoenas for the lawyer. Many of these services do not require a lawyer to pay in advance because a lawyer is supposedly honest and trustworthy. Legal support services rely on the integrity of an attorney and expect a lawyer to make payment as soon as the bill is received.
