What is Fee Arbitration?

The State Bar of Georgia, on behalf of the Supreme Court of Georgia, administers the Fee Arbitration Program as a service to both the public and Georgia attorneys. The actual arbitration is a hearing conducted by one or more persons not involved in the dispute. In most cases, two experienced attorneys and one non-attorney public member serve as the arbitrators. Like judges, they review the evidence and hear the arguments on both sides and decide the outcome of the dispute. Arbitration is impartial and usually less expensive than going to court. The purpose of the Program is to provide a convenient mechanism for the resolution of disputes between attorneys and clients over fees. The Fee Arbitration Program also arbitrates certain fee disputes between attorneys and law firms.