Appears the solicitor has lots of support on Askaboutmoney! Here's the course of events for reference....I placed a call to his office asking for representation which was fielded by his secretary (30 seconds). At her request, I fax through a copy of the charge sheet. Some time later, he calls me back to briefly (5 minutes) discuss the incident. Next time we meet is 1 minute before court convenes (1 minute conversation), 10 seconds of which is usurped by him asking for a €300 fee (paid in cash & no receipt). Later during the course of proceedings, the court clerk reads the charge to which a Garda Inspector replies, charge struck out. Solicitor doesn't even need to stand or utter a word. I leave court, he shakes my hand & wishes my good luck (5 seconds).
If he had to argue my case & then its struck out, I'd think ok, €300, not bad, but €300 for a 5 minutes phonecall & another 1.5 minutes on courtesies??? As far travelling to meet me, my case was about 50th on the list, by which time he had represented at a minimum 20 other clients, so I don't accept that he travelled just to represent me.
To Bronte: I agree, his fee would have been value had he had a role in the strike out.
To MF1: Wrt your doctor example, if he had a part in easing my pain, I'd have no issue paying (albeit feeling stupid that I didn't recognise that the only problem was a tight shoe!)
My original question stands - do posters think this represents good value or is it another example of the rip-off culture that exists among many of the professions in this country?