Lawyer charges for email answer?

[Caleb Heimsoth]

For people who use lawyers or are lawyers themselves, I'm just wondering if it's normal to be charged for simply responding to an email? Usually these emails are simply one or two line responses or answers (that's all they really require), but it makes me question if an email that takes 5 seconds to type is worth the money I'm charged. If this is normal, than I understand completely, I just want to see if that's the case. Part of me thinks you should only be charged for legal work or legal research, and these short brief emails should just be included in that, but I could be wrong. Any responses are appreciated. Caleb

[Brandon Hall]

In the professional services industry, our value is our brain. If you are tapping into my brain in any way shape or form, you better believe I'm going to charge you for it. 

I'm a CPA, so it's a bit different. I didn't like sending clients invoices for emails, so now we just include unlimited emails in the overall pricing package. But it's definitely a paid part of the service.

So yes, I'd say it's standard and fair. You're tapping into knowledge and you should be okay paying for that knowledge, regardless of how easy it is for the attorney to rattle off.