r/lawfirms

I'm a legal administrator at a personal injury firm. I wonder sometimes if the costs we charge to clients are always appropriate. Here are a few examples.

There was one instance where an attorney left our firm, so we mailed notices to his clients. We charged the postage to the client.

An attorney who lives in another state charged mileage and a hotel when he came to our home office to meet the client at our office for a deposition. Traveling to court is one thing, but 'traveling' to the law firm the client hired didn't seem right.

QSF administrative fees really deal with settlement payments, but it has nothing to do with putting their case through litigation, yet we charge those fees to the client even when they opt not to use the services a QSF offers.

We've ordered medical records in error (incorrect provider, misspelled client's name on request) and charged those to clients.

We've hired "paralegal" firms to assist with paralegal help and charged those costs to clients.

Also, when we have multiple defendants in a case, we charge all costs to the first defendant that settles. We don't establish separate matter numbers or anything like that. If action vs. Defendant A costs $10k and action vs. Defendant B costs $1k, and we only settle with Defendant B, all costs are charged to the client in the settlement disbursement with Defendant B. Is that usually the case?

Thanks for any help or guidance you may provide.

How common is it for firms/clients to eat non-refundable retainers paid to experts who end up billing a small portion of the retainer? It's been my experience that experts will sometimes only offer services/be available if they are paid a non-refundable retainer. We recently paid a non-refundable retainer of $8000, only to need about $1800 worth of their services.

Hey everyone, hoping to get some insight from people who've been through this or work in the field.

My background:

• PhD in Genetics (completed outside the US)
• Currently finishing a postdoc in Genetics at a US institution
• Green card holder, so no visa complications

I've been applying to staff scientist and technical specialist roles at IP law firms in Boston (Choate, Wolf Greenfield, and similar firms) and I am not getting any interviews. Not even a callback.

My questions:

1. Does it matter that my PhD is from a non-US institution? Is that a red flag for these firms, or do they care more about the science itself?
2. Is there something specific these firms look for that I might be underselling or missing entirely on my application materials?
3. Are there certifications, courses, or other credentials I should be working toward (USPTO registration exam, patent agent exam, etc.) that would make my profile more competitive?
4. Is cold outreach to attorneys or partners at these firms actually effective, or does it come across as desperate?
5. Are there better entry points into patent law for someone with my background, maybe at smaller boutiques, biotech companies with in-house IP teams, or patent prosecution agencies?

I genuinely love the intersection of science and law and I really want to make this transition work. Any advice, personal experience, or even harsh truths are welcome. Thanks in advance.