Honoring the Honor System

Thanks to Ed over at Blawg Review, I was turned on to this post at the Adpulp.com about a businessperson who opened a coffee shop that allows people to pay what ever they feel is appropriate for their coffee and scones.  This matter was first reported in a Seattle Times article, which noted:

“The idea emerged during a booze-fueled debate in a Saigonbar, where Peretz and a colleague had traveled to blow off steam after a period of long hours at work.Peretz argued that people are essentially good, but can be influenced by their environment. If people see good, they’ll be good.Peretz isn’t worried that people will abuse Terra Bite. There’s enough money to fund the honor system, and enough honor, too, he said.”

We include a statement at the bottom of our billing letters that indicates that any bill would be adjusted at the client’s request.  We essentially provide the billing as a benchmark for value.  Of course, we work within budgets so the client doesn’t have to pay anything over the agreed upon budget in the first instance. 

I love the quote “there’s enough money to fund the honor system, and enough honor, too,” 

In two years of being in business, I can only recall two instances where a client asked that a bill be adjusted downward.  In both instances, the client was correct.  In discussing the matter, I could not justify the value proposition in my own mind, told the client so and allowed them to pay whatever they felt was reasonable. 

How many lawyers stand behind the work they perform and the results they deliver?