Some lawyers earn minimum wage. Check want ads in big cities and you’ll see it.
Basing fees on hours performed is anachronistic. Lawyers are in business. They project a reasonable income for themselves and staff. They pay high overhead, usually in plush executive office suites. Equipment rental and maintenance. Phones, supplies, postage. They add it all up and then set an “hourly fee” for various levels of attorneys and paralegals to set rates on.
Doctor don’t use the hourly fee model. You’ve heard the guy say I had my hip replaced for $20,000 and it only took them 2 hours. Obviously there is no time component. It is based on service performed and practitioner’s expertise level.
I can see one reason for this, which would be to discourage clients offered a "package deal" from endlessly sapping the attorney's time on little things tangentially related to the main issue. That generally doesn't happen with doctors, since they can charge per visit.
My dad called them fee couchs.
The lawyer makes sure you are comfortably seated in one before he tells you his fee.
Really? Poor lawyers, do they also collect food stamps and other gov benefits? We are told one can not live on min wage.