Ethical implications of charging credit card fees: Insights from the NYSBA
July 20, 2023
Here is my recent Daily Record column. My past Daily Record articles can be accessed here.
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The Ethical Implications of Charging Credit Card Fees: Insights from the NYSBA
As the legal profession adapts to the digital age, the types of payment methods accepted from clients have likewise evolved. Lawyers in 2023 accept many forms of payment from clients, including credit cards. In fact, accepting credit card payments for legal services has become increasingly commonplace.
However, that wasn’t always the case. When lawyers first proposed the idea of accepting credit cards for payment of legal fees, there was significant resistance. The concern was that legal clients who were facing the complexities of their cases would be further burdened by the additional costs associated with credit cards. This resistance was grounded in our profession's commitment to maintaining a fair and equitable relationship between lawyers and clients.
Over time, however, attitudes changed. Credit cards were viewed with less skepticism, and as a result, many lawyers now regularly accept credit cards from clients. By doing so, they increase access to justice by making it possible for potential clients to afford lawyers when they might otherwise have been unable to do so. In other words, when lawyers accept credit cards, they offer their clients much-needed flexibility and convenience.
However, with this ease of payment comes new ethical considerations. Credit cards are a unique form of payment and as is always the case when it comes to any type of legal fee arrangement, transparency and reasonableness are always essential, as recently explained by the New York State Bar Association in Ethics Opinion 1258 (Online: https://nysba.org/ethics-opinion-1258-credit-card-fees-as-an-expense/).
At issue in this opinion was whether it is ethical for lawyers to pass credit card processing fees onto clients as an expense, and under what circumstances.
In reaching its determination, the Committee on Professional Ethics first confirmed that lawyers in New York can ethically accept credit cards from clients to pay for legal services as long as the following conditions are met: 1) The legal fee charged is reasonable; 2) The attorney maintains the client's information in strict confidence; 3) The lawyer doesn't let the credit card company influence their independent professional judgment when representing the client; 4) The lawyer informs the client prior to processing the credit card charges, giving the client an opportunity to question any billing discrepancies; and 5) In case of any disagreements regarding the lawyer's fee, the lawyer seeks to obtain a peaceful and quick resolution, and if relevant, follows the fee dispute resolution program set forth in 22 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 137.
Next, the Committee turned to the issue of charging clients the cost of the merchant processing fee. According to the Committee, Rule 1.5(a) of the New York Rules of Professional Conduct, prohibits attorneys from imposing "an excessive fee or expense" on a client. The rule outlines a series of factors, although not exhaustive, to help determine if a fee or expense is too high. The Committee explained that when a lawyer wants to pass a merchant processing fee to a client who uses a credit card for payment of legal services, it is considered an "expense" under Rule 1.5(a), which mandates that an attorney provide written notification to the client about the "fees and expenses" for which they will be accountable.
The Committee concluded that because a merchant fee from a credit card transaction is an “expense,” New York lawyers are permitted to transfer the merchant processing fee to clients who use credit cards to pay for legal services, as long as both the lawyer's fee and the processing fee are reasonable, and the lawyer previously notified the client in writing and received their approval to proceed.
Protecting the interests of legal consumers is essential regardless of the payment method accepted. This opinion, and others like it, play a pivotal role in safeguarding the interests of legal clients. They ensure that regardless of the payment method, the ethical standards of the profession prioritize the rights and interests of clients, reinforcing the fundamental principles of fairness and integrity in legal practice.
Of course, whether it’s good business to pass processing fees onto clients is a different issue. Just as you may avoid gas stations that charge more for gas, so too may a legal client avoid a law firm that abides by this practice.
Another option would be that once your firm begins to accept credit cards, consider increasing hourly rates across the board to account for expected credit card processing charges. Either way, your firm gets paid the same amount, but the process is simplified and your client likely will feel less resentment. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and you should do what works best for your firm and its clients.
Nicole Black is a Rochester, New York attorney, author, journalist, and the Head of SME and External Education at MyCase legal practice management software, an AffiniPay company. She is the nationally-recognized author of "Cloud Computing for Lawyers" (2012) and co-authors "Social Media for Lawyers: The Next Frontier" (2010), both published by the American Bar Association. She also co-authors "Criminal Law in New York," a Thomson Reuters treatise. She writes regular columns for Above the Law, ABA Journal, and The Daily Record, has authored hundreds of articles for other publications, and regularly speaks at conferences regarding the intersection of law and emerging technologies. She is an ABA Legal Rebel, and is listed on the Fastcase 50 and ABA LTRC Women in Legal Tech. She can be contacted at [email protected].