---
title: Short-Sighted Lawyering
description: why do lawyers get a bad reputation with fees
image: https://www.gallatin-law.com/hubfs/Canva%20images/Canva%20Design%20DAFQJ36V6Ng.png
---
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10/26/2022
# Short-Sighted Lawyering
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- [mailto:?subject=Short-Sighted%20Lawyering&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gallatin-law.com%2Fblog%2Fshort-sighted-lawyering](mailto:?subject=Short-Sighted%20Lawyering&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gallatin-law.com%2Fblog%2Fshort-sighted-lawyering)
A news story illustrates why lawyers get such a bad rap. In this case, the negative reaction to the lawyering involved is absolutely deserved.
In a case venued in Duluth that includes counsel from a Forest Lake firm, an ongoing probate dispute has apparently depleted the estate's assets. Functionally, someone passed away and there is a contest over who should get the assets of the estate. The estate had approximately $250,000.00 in assets.
As probate lawyers know, the estate pays the attorney's fees for the lawyer representing the personal representative of the estate. Those fees come directly out of the estate's assets.
In a case of what I consider to be horrific lawyering, the lawyers in this dispute have drug out the fight so badly that the beneficiaries are looking at getting nothing from the estate. $250,000 spent on a fight. Lawyers getting paid. Family members getting nothing.
Your lawyer should never get you in that position. A fundamental element of a case analysis is what resources should be committed to the case to produce a positive outcome for the client. $250,000 is a lot of money, but should not be looked at as a pot from which you get paid. The analysis must be to make tough decisions so the right people get the money. The lawyers are not the right people.
I will not get you in a situation where my fees and expenses are outspending the case. Don't get yourself caught in that situation.
- [fees](https://www.gallatin-law.com/blog/tag/fees),
- [lawyer client relationship](https://www.gallatin-law.com/blog/tag/lawyer-client-relationship)
## [Dan Gallatin](https://www.gallatin-law.com/blog/author/dan-gallatin)
Dan is a lifelong resident of Minnesota. Born in St. Paul, Dan spent many of his formative years growing up there before moving to White Bear Lake. After graduating from White Bear Lake, Dan spent four glorious years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a degree in two majors. Dan worked as a Senior Investigator at the Minnesota Department of Commerce for several years after graduating from college. During his final years Dan attended William Mitchell College of Law while still working full-time. During this exhausting 3 ½ year period Dan honed his skills in becoming an efficient, to-the-point legal practitioner. While at Madison Dan met his wife, Tonya, and together they moved to Minnesota to plant their roots. Dan and Tonya have two amazing, unique children and reside in Hugo.
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