Attorney Fee Arbitration Committee Seeks Members

The Supreme Court of New Jersey, District IV Fee Arbitration Committee is seeking lay people to serve as arbitrators.

New Jersey attorneys are required to provide new clients with either (1) a written fee agreement or (2) a letter summarizing the fee arrangement. This must be done when, or shortly after, the attorney first accepts the case. Despite agreements and discussions about fees, issues may arise about the size of the attorney’s bill. Fee disputes, like any disagreement over the value of services, may be resolved by a lawsuit.

As an alternative to such a lawsuit, the Supreme Court of New Jersey has established the fee arbitration process as a low-cost and efficient method to resolve such disputes. District fee arbitration committees throughout New Jersey are maintained by volunteers, with the goal of resolving, through binding arbitration, disputes over attorney fees. Fee arbitration is impartial and inexpensive, and the arbitration process is typically resolved more quickly than a court case. The fee arbitration process may be less stressful for all involved, since it is less formal and designed to bring matters towards their conclusion in a straightforward, time-saving, and efficient way.

Since 1979, fee arbitration committees have been composed of both attorneys and public members who volunteer their time. Most fee arbitration cases are heard before panels of three members, composed of two attorneys and one public member (or three attorneys, if a public member is unavailable).

The experience of panel service is both rewarding and a benefit to the public. The time commitment is limited. Most panels meet approximately once every two months for one to three hours, and the hearings are all in the Camden County area.

Interested parties should email Chair Patrick J. Madden, Esquire at pjm@maddenmadden.com.